Record-Setting Climber Nirmal Purja Dies in Avalanche

Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal Purja, who became famous for setting the record for the fastest ascent of all 14 of the world's eight-thousanders, died in an avalanche during an expedition in Pakistan. His death on Saturday was confirmed by Elite Exped, the company that organized the expedition.

The company also said that the other members of the expedition did not survive. Purja, 43, and nine other climbers had been missing since Thursday after being struck by an avalanche on Broad Peak, the world's 12th-highest mountain, located in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan.

Purja, a former member of the British Gurkha special forces, set a record in 2019 by climbing all 14 of the world's highest peaks in six months. A Netflix documentary also brought him worldwide fame.

An avalanche struck the group of 10 climbers on Thursday at noon. Six were from Nepal, while the others came from Pakistan, Oman, the United States and China.

(Reuters, bak)