Nepali Climber Nirmal Purja Dies in Broad Peak Avalanche

Celebrated Nepali climber Nirmal Purja, who set the record for the fastest ascent of the world's 14 highest mountains, has died in an avalanche during an expedition in Pakistan, his company says.

“Today it is with profound sadness and immense heartbreak that we confirm that Nirmal 'Nimsdai' Purja tragically lost his life following the avalanche on Broad Peak,” his expedition organising company Elite Exped said in a social media post on Saturday.

Purja, 43, and nine others had been missing since Thursday after being struck by an avalanche on the 8,051-metre Broad Peak, the world's 12th highest mountain and a technically difficult climb in Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan region.

Purja, who served with British special forces as a Gurkha, completed his record-breaking 14-mountain feat in six months in 2019.

He became widely known internationally after the Netflix documentary chronicling his journey "14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible" was released two years later.

The 10 mountaineers were caught in an avalanche around midday on Thursday, local time.

Six of the 10 climbers were Nepalis and the others were from ⁠Pakistan, Oman, the US and China.

Purja had written on X this week that he was close to becoming the first person to climb all 14 "super peaks" twice without oxygen.

Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah offered his condolences.

"The tragic death of six Nepalese and four other foreign climbers, including world record holder Nirmal Purja, in the Karakoram mountain range of Pakistan, has shocked us," he said in a statement on social media.

"The physical journey of all the deceased climbers... has been interrupted, but the history of their courage, dedication, and contributions will always remain inspiring."