The Prince of Wales said he was “truly saddened” to hear of the death of former British Army and Royal Marines soldier Nirmal Purja, as the company he co-founded confirmed he died in an avalanche in Pakistan.
The Nepalese mountaineer was leading an expedition of 10 climbers on Broad Peak – the world’s 12th highest mountain – in the north of the country when the avalanche struck at about midday on Thursday. Following search efforts, his company Elite Exped confirmed Mr Purja was killed.
Prince of Wales pays tribute
In a post shared on social media on Saturday evening, William called Mr Purja “one of the world’s greatest mountaineers” and “truly unique”. He added that his thoughts are with his family and the families of all those who died.
The post says: “I was truly saddened to hear of the tragic death of Nirmal Purja and those who lost their lives in the avalanche on Broad Peak.
“Nims served with distinction in the British Armed Forces before becoming one of the world’s greatest mountaineers, putting Nepalese climbers on the map.
“His relentless pursuit of what seemed impossible, combined with his humility and selflessness, made him truly unique.
“My thoughts are with his family and the families of all those who died.”
It was signed “W”.
Elite Exped confirms deaths
In a post shared on Instagram, Elite Exped said: “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. We have also received confirmation that other members of this expedition sadly did not survive.
“Today, we mourn not only Nims, but every life lost in this tragedy including his trusted climbing partners and guides, Pur Bahadur Gurung (Yukta) and Nima Sherpa.
“Our deepest thoughts, prayers and heartfelt condolences are with their families, friends and loved ones. No words can erase the pain of this unimaginable loss, and we ask that everyone respects their privacy as they grieve.”
Tributes from Bear Grylls and Spencer Matthews
British adventurer Bear Grylls also paid tribute to Purja, writing on Instagram: “Heartbreaking news for so many climbers around the world who had a relationship with this remarkable and unique man. We will never forget you Nims and your unstoppable spirit.”
Along with Mr Grylls, Mr Purja was enlisted by former Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews to help recover the body of his brother, Michael, the youngest Briton to summit Everest who disappeared on the mountain in 1999. Their efforts were captured in the documentary Finding Michael, released in 2023.
Earlier on Saturday, Mr Matthews said he was praying “for a miracle”. Mr Matthews shared a photo with the mountaineer on Instagram and said the news from Broad Peak was “heartbreaking”.
The 37-year-old said in the post: “The mountains inspire us with their beauty but they also demand immense respect.
“Every person who ventures into that world understands the risks, yet they go anyway, driven by curiosity, purpose, passion and a deep love for the places few will ever experience.
“The news from Broad Peak is heartbreaking. So many lives, families, friends and teammates now facing unimaginable loss. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy.
“May those who have been lost be remembered not only for how they died, but for how they lived, the courage they showed, and the lives they touched. Rest in peace. To those not yet found, we pray for a miracle.”
Record-breaking mountaineer
Mr Purja rose to prominence in 2019 when he climbed all 14 of the world’s mountains with peaks above 8,000 metres (26,247ft) in 189 days – smashing the previous record by more than seven years. The challenge was the focus of a Netflix documentary called 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible.
Mr Purja, 43, powered to the top of the mountains, each with peaks in the so-called “death zone”, starting with Annapurna on April 23 2019 and taking in Everest in May and K2 in July.
Military service and rescue
He served in the British military for 16 years, 10 of which were spent in the special forces, and he was awarded an MBE by the late Queen in 2018 for his achievement in extreme high-altitude mountaineering.
The cold weather warfare specialist said he was the first Gurkha to climb Everest while serving in the British military. In 2016, he broke mountaineering conventions to rescue a climber left in the “Everest death zone”, bringing her to safety alone.
