All ten members of an international climbing expedition have been confirmed dead after an avalanche struck Broad Peak in Pakistan on July 30 2026. The group was led by renowned British Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja also known as Nims or Nimsdai. His company Elite Exped announced the tragic news on August 1 stating it was with profound sadness that they confirmed Purja and the other climbers did not survive.
The avalanche hit around mid morning local time as the team pushed toward the summit of the 8051 metre peak the twelfth highest mountain in the world located in the Karakoram range of Gilgit Baltistan. Trackers showed a sudden and rapid descent from about 6600 metres between camps two and three on the west ridge.
Harsh weather complicated rescue efforts but teams recovered several bodies including those of American climber Mallory Geis Omani climber Nadhira Al Harthy the first woman from Oman to summit Everest and Nepali guide Pur Bahadur Gurung. Recovery of the remaining climbers continued with military helicopter support. Nirmal Purja was 43 years old. Born on 25 July 1983 in Nepal’s Myagdi District he grew up in a family with a strong Gurkha tradition.
At age 18 he joined the Brigade of Gurkhas in the British Army following his father and brothers. In 2009 he became the first Gurkha to pass selection for the elite Special Boat Service the special forces unit of the Royal Navy where he specialised in cold weather and high altitude operations during a 16 year military career. He began serious mountaineering later in life. His first eight thousander summit came on Dhaulagiri in 2014.
He reached the top of Everest multiple times and in 2017 led a team of Gurkhas to the summit to mark 200 years of Gurkha service. In 2018 he received an MBE for services to mountaineering. Purja gained global fame in 2019 with Project Possible. He climbed all 14 peaks above 8000 metres in just six months and six days using supplemental oxygen and smashed the previous record of nearly eight years.
Along the way he set additional marks including the fastest ascent of Everest Lhotse and Makalu in 48 hours. A Netflix documentary titled 14 Peaks Nothing Is Impossible brought his story to a wide audience. In January 2021 he joined nine other Nepali climbers in making the first winter ascent of K2 one of the most dangerous mountains on Earth. He later pursued climbs without bottled oxygen and continued leading expeditions through his company while supporting community work in Nepal through his foundation.
Nepal’s Prime Minister and the Alpine Club of Pakistan expressed deep shock at the loss. Colleagues described Purja as experienced fearless and dedicated to highlighting the contributions of Nepali climbers and Sherpas. The deaths of the entire multinational team from Nepal the United States Oman Pakistan and China have left the mountaineering world mourning a generation of talent united by passion for the high peaks. Recovery operations continue as families and friends begin to grieve.
