One of the world's most famous mountaineers, Nirmal Purja, who had conquered all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters in a record time, died in an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan. His company, Elite Exped, reported this.
According to a company statement, other members of the expedition also died as a result of the tragedy. They remembered Purja as a person who inspired millions with his courage, humility, and belief in human potential.
In 2019, Nirmal Purja set a world record by conquering all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters in just seven months. He later wrote a book about this achievement, and Netflix shot a documentary film titled "14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible" based on his career. In 2024, he became the fastest mountaineer to conquer all 14 peaks without supplemental oxygen.
Purja had not planned to climb Broad Peak in 2026, but at the end of July, leading a group of 10 professional mountaineers, he set out on an expedition with the aim of setting a new record.
On July 30, an avalanche occurred on Broad Peak. According to GPS data, at the time of the avalanche, Purja was at an altitude of 6,660 meters and was swept hundreds of meters down in a short time. After rescue operations, Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah also confirmed that the mountaineer and members of his expedition had died.
