On Feb. 18, a man skiing in Lake Tahoe, California got buried in snow after an avalanche. Two fellow skiers happened to be nearby and saw the man’ skis and ski pole sticking up out of the snow and quickly went to work to free him.
PAKISTAN – Famed British Nepali climber Nirmal “Nimsdai” Purja was among those who died in an avalanche in Pakistan on Thursday.
Local police said a 10-member international mountaineering team departed for a Broad Peak expedition through Karakoram Tours, Amazing Tours and Blue Sky Trek & Tours Company on July 30.
According to reports, the team was ascending from Camp II to Camp III on Broad Peak in the morning when it was struck by an avalanche, according to Gilgit-Baltistan police.
Record-setting climber Nirmal Purja, also known as Nimsdai, signals victory as he arrives back in Kathmandu, Nepal, on October 14, 2024, after completing the summit of 14 peaks towering above 8000 meters without oxygen. On May 7, 2022, climber Nims begins this campaign by summiting Kanchenjunga without using supplemental oxygen. On May 27 of the same year, he ascends Everest, followed by Lhotse on May 28, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu, Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum, Broad Peak, and finally Shishapangma. Out of the 14 tallest peaks, eight are located in Nepal, while the others are in Pakistan and China. (Photo by Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
After hearing about the incident, search and rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the site.
Four bodies have since been recovered. However, the identities of the bodies and condition of the remaining hikers remain unknown.
The Nimsdai Foundation announced that Purja tragically lost his life following the avalanche, which happened on Broad Peak.
Broad peak mountain landscape, K2trek, Pakistan
(Skazzjy)
“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,” the Nimsdai Foundation said in a statement.
The foundation described Purja as one of mountaineering’s greatest climbers — a leader who inspired millions through his courage, humility and unwavering belief that human potential is far greater than we often imagine.
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“More than his extraordinary achievements, he wanted to show the world what was possible when you dared to dream bigger, believed in yourself and refused to accept limitations. Through his actions, he inspired millions of people to believe that they, too, could achieve more than they ever thought possible,” the foundation said.
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 15: Nimsdai Purja attends a special screening of ’14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible’, including a Q&A with Nirmal “Nimsdai” Purja, at Soho Hotel on November 15, 2021 in London, England.
(David M. Benett/Dave Benett / Getty Images)
The Nimsdai Foundation said Purja’s leadership and determination built Elite Exped, Nimsdai Foundation, Skydive Nimsdai and Nimsdai Store into what they are today.
“His legacy will live on in the countless lives he changed and the people he inspired to climb their own mountains,” the statement reads. “No words can ease the pain of this unimaginable loss, and we ask that everyone respects their privacy as they grieve.”
Prime Minister of Nepal Balendra Shah said the climbers’ “tragic demise” is shocking, but they will be remembered for their courage and dedication, as noted in a message posted to social media that has been translated to English.
“The tragic demise of six Nepalese and four other foreign climbers, including world-famous Nirmal Purja (Nims brother) in the 8,051-meter tall ‘Broad Pick’ located in Karakoram Mountain-Srinkhala of the world, is shocked by the tragic demise of Nepalese and four other foreign climbers.
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Search and rescue operations remain underway, and authorities are closely monitoring the situation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said an American, named Mallory Geis, was also on the mountaineering team.
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 15: Nimsdai Purja attends a special screening of ’14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible’, including a Q&A with Nirmal “Nimsdai” Purja, at Soho Hotel on November 15, 2021 in London, England.
(David M. Benett/Dave Benett/ / Getty Images)
Purja was featured in a popular Netflix documentary called “14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible,” in which Purja talks about embarking on a seemingly impossible quest to summit all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks in seven months.
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Broad Peak is the 12th highest mountain in the world, and it’s known for its extreme hazards like avalanches, the Death Zone and harsh weather changes.
