Mountaineer Nirmal Purja killed in Pakistan avalanche, his company says

Renowned British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja was killed in an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan, his company Elite Expeditions announced on Saturday. The 43-year-old was among 10 people who perished when the avalanche struck the Alpine Club of Pakistan said three additional bodies had been found near the 5,700m mark of the mountain.

Among the deceased were American Mallory Geis, Oman's Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy, and Nepalese Pur Bahadur Gurung. Purja, known for scaling the world's 14 highest peaks in six months in 2019, had been leading a multinational expedition. His death was mourned by Prince William, UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, and Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah.

Purja, who served in the British Army for 16 years, including in the special forces, was awarded an MBE by the late Queen in 2018. He was also the first Gurkha to climb Everest while serving in the British military. Before his death, Purja expressed his intentions to climb Broad Peak during the same expedition, expressing gratitude for the safe passage up and down the mountain.