Kathmandu— Renowned Nepali-British mountaineer Nirmal Purja, popularly known as Nimsdai or Nims, has been confirmed dead following a tragic avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan’s Karakoram range. His company, Elite Exped, announced the news on Saturday with profound sadness.

In an official Instagram statement, Elite Exped wrote: “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 the 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 ease the pain of this unimaginable loss, and we ask that everyone respects their privacy as they grieve.”

Purja, 43, was leading a 10-person international expedition on the 8,047-metre (26,401-foot) Broad Peak, the world’s 12th-highest mountain, when the avalanche struck on the morning of 30 July 2026 between Camp 2 and Camp 3. Search and rescue operations recovered several bodies in the days that followed amid challenging weather conditions.

One of the most celebrated figures in high-altitude mountaineering, Purja rose to global fame after climbing all 14 of the world’s peaks above 8,000 metres in a record 189 days in 2019 — a feat chronicled in the Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible. A former British Special Forces soldier, he later achieved the first winter ascent of K2 and amassed dozens of 8,000-metre summits, many without supplemental oxygen.

Founded by Nimsdai and Mingma David that same year, Elite Exped was born of a desire to help others achieve audacious goals in the mountains. Whether it’s their impeccable safety record, their proven planning and preparation, or simply their unmatched mountaineering ability, Nims and Mingma David are the best of the best. They look forward to helping you achieve your ultimate ambitions, as they have theirs.

The mountaineering community has been left in shock at the loss of one of its most driven and accomplished figures. Further updates on the remaining members of the expedition are expected as recovery efforts continue.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​