Tragedy: World-record mountain climber killed in avalanche in Pakistan

Nepalese climber Nirmal Purja, who held the world record for climbing the 14 highest peaks in the shortest time, was killed in an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan. His climbing company, Elite Exped, confirmed his death. The avalanche occurred on Thursday, and contact was lost with him and other expedition members. Their bodies are in a difficult-to-access area. Purja was 43 at the time of his death.

Nepalese climber Nirmal Purja, who held the world record for climbing the 14 highest peaks on Earth in the shortest time, was killed in an avalanche during a climbing expedition in Pakistan, it was reported today (Saturday). His climbing company, Elite Exped, confirmed his death in a post on their Instagram account. The statement said: "With great sadness and heartbreak, we confirm that Nirmal 'Nimsdai' Purja has tragically died as a result of the avalanche on Broad Peak." The peak is located in Pakistan and rises to 8,051 meters, making it the 12th highest peak in the world. The avalanche occurred on Thursday as his team was climbing the mountain, and contact was lost with him and other expedition members. The company's statement said that alongside Purja "there are other expedition members who did not survive." Pakistani authorities said that the bodies of Purja and other expedition members are in an area with difficult access, so they have not yet been located and recovered. Purja, a Nepali native, served in the British Marines and was 43 at the time of his death. In 2019, he reached the summit of Shishapangma in southwest China, breaking the record for climbing the 14 highest peaks in the world, all above 8,000 meters, in the shortest time - in just seven months.