ISLAMABAD: Rescue teams have recovered the body of renowned British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, who was killed along with nine members of his expedition in a powerful avalanche in northern Pakistan earlier this week, the Alpine Club of Pakistan confirmed on Sunday.
The ground rescue team has reached Nims Dai (Purja) at approximately 5,700m on Broad Peak — a mountain he loved, and a mountain that has now taken him from us,” the club posted on social media.
According to the Alpine Club of Pakistan’s General Secretary Ayaz Shigri the rescue teams had recovered the body of Nirmal Purja along with three other team members during a challenging high-altitude recovery operation, which has been hampered by adverse weather conditions.
The body of renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja was found Sunday, three days after an avalanche on Broad Peak killed him and 9 others in PoK’s Gilgit-Baltistan. The Alpine Club of Pakistan said his body was recovered at 5,700m. Three other bodies were sighted but remain… pic.twitter.com/G1JEeHLpYA
— DNA (@dna) August 2, 2026
The avalanche struck on Thursday on Broad Peak, cutting off contact with the 10-member international expedition led by Purja, a 43-year-old British-Nepali climber.
“It is with profound sadness and immense heartbreak that we confirm that Nirmal Purja tragically lost his life following the avalanche on Broad Peak,” his expedition company, Elite Expeditions, said in a statement posted on social media.
Rescue efforts have continued in difficult terrain as teams search for the remaining members of the expedition. His expedition company confirmed on Saturday that no team members had survived.
Authorities said the bodies of three climbers — an Omani woman, a Nepali man, and an American woman — were recovered and transported to the city of Skardu on Friday.
According to the Alpine Club of Pakistan, the expedition also included a Chinese national and several other Nepali climbers.
The deadly avalanche has triggered widespread shock and grief across the global mountaineering community, particularly in Nepal. Condolences have poured in from around the world, with leaders including Britain’s Prince William expressing sympathy and offering support to the families of the climbers.
Pakistan Army search and rescue teams search for climbers
Following the devastating avalanche, Pakistan Army helicopters and ground search and rescue teams made every effort to locate the climbers.
The operation was expanded with local Pakistani climbers volunteering, together with others from Nepal who have halted their expeditions on nearby K2.
On Friday, the Alpine Club of Pakistan said several climbers had been spotted by drones but their condition was unknown.
Sole survivor from initial team
Pakistani climber Fida Ali, who had joined the expedition during its initial stages, told AFP he narrowly escaped the disaster after returning from the climb to accompany an exhausted Russian climber.
“I wanted to go with him (Purja) but couldn’t and came back with her. I was part of the team but survived,” he said.
Ali said the team’s primary objective this climbing season had been Broad Peak after they had first attempted nearby Gasherbrum II (G2) in difficult weather conditions.
Also Read: Mountaineer Nirmal Purja, Nine Others Die in Broad Peak Avalanche in Pakistan
Tributes pour in
Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah expressed condolences over the deaths, describing the incident as a tragedy that had shocked the country.
“The physical journey of all the deceased climbers has been interrupted, but the history of their courage, dedication, and contributions will always remain inspiring,” Shah wrote in a statement on social media.
Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan government also expressed condolences to the families of those killed and said rescue and recovery efforts would continue.
Broad Peak Search and Rescue Operation
The search and rescue operation on Broad Peak resumed this morning. High-altitude porters and rescue teams have restarted the operation to continue the search for the missing mountaineers.
(Spokesperson, Gilgit-Baltistan Police) pic.twitter.com/EqXOIqOPgN
— Gilgit-Baltistan Police (@police_gb) August 1, 2026
Purja, a former member of Britain’s Brigade of Gurkhas who later served with the Royal Marines’ Special Boat Squadron, became one of the world’s most recognised mountaineers after completing all 14 mountains above 8,000 metres in just six months and six days in 2019, setting a world record.
His achievement was later documented in the Netflix film 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible, which brought him international recognition.
Breaking: The bodies of celebrated Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja and three other climbers were recovered on Sunday.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan said the rescue team located Purja at around 5,700 metres, where three additional bodies were also found. Their identities are yet…
— Sajjad Tarakzai (@SajjadTarakzai) August 2, 2026
Earlier this week, Purja wrote on social media that he was attempting to become the first climber to summit all 14 of the world’s “eight-thousanders” twice without supplementary oxygen.
“Broad Peak, I ask for nothing but safe passage up and back down,” he wrote.
Broad Peak, the world’s 12th-highest mountain, rises to 8,047 metres in Pakistan’s Karakoram range. It is regarded as one of the most technically demanding of the world’s 14 peaks above 8,000 metres.
The mountain was first successfully climbed in 1957 by an Austrian expedition.
