Rest in Peaks: Mountaineering Icon Nirmal Purja’s Body Found After 3-Day Search on Broad Peak

The body of legendary Nepalese-British mountaineer Nirmal Purja, popularly known as ‘Nims Dai’, was recovered on Sunday, three days after a devastating avalanche swept away him and nine other climbers on Broad Peak in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s Gilgit-Baltistan region.

The Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) confirmed that the 43-year-old climber’s body was found at an altitude of around 5,700 metres on Broad Peak, one of the most challenging mountains in the world. Rescue teams have so far recovered the bodies of five climbers, while efforts continue to locate the remaining five members of the expedition.

“The ground rescue team has reached Nirmal Purja ‘Nims Dai’ at approximately 5,700m on Broad Peak, where three additional bodies have also been sighted, though their identities remain unconfirmed,” the ACP said.

The rescue operation has been severely hampered by extreme weather, dangerous terrain, steep slopes and the continuing risk of avalanches. Helicopter operations could not be carried out due to poor weather conditions, forcing ground teams to carry out recovery efforts in highly difficult conditions.

The avalanche struck Broad Peak on Thursday in the Karakoram mountain range near K2, the world’s second-highest mountain. The group included five Nepalese climbers, one Pakistani, one Omani, one American and one Chinese mountaineer.

Purja’s expedition company Elite Exped announced on Saturday that all 10 members of the group had died. Earlier, four bodies had been recovered, including those of Oman’s Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy, Nepal’s Pur Bahadur Gurung, and American climber Mallory Geis.

Purja was widely regarded as one of the greatest mountaineers of his generation. In 2019, he created history by climbing all 14 mountains above 8,000 metres in just six months and six days, setting a world record. He was attempting to complete another historic feat of scaling all 14 eight-thousanders twice, with Broad Peak being his final remaining climb.

Known for his extraordinary endurance and daring Himalayan expeditions, Purja’s achievements had transformed him into a global icon in mountaineering. His death marks a tragic end to the journey of a climber who repeatedly pushed the limits of human endurance against some of the planet’s most dangerous peaks.