Record-Breaking Mountaineer Nirmal Nims Purja Dies in Avalanche

5 August 2026National

Renowned Nepali-British mountaineer Nirmal Purja (Nims) died in an avalanche on Broad Peak, Gilgit-Baltistan (Pakistan), in July 2026. In 2019 he completed Project Possible 14/7, summiting all 14 eight-thousanders (peaks above 8,000 m) in 6 months and 6 days, smashing the earlier record by over seven years. A former Gurkha and the first Gurkha inducted into the UK Royal Navy's Special Boat Service, he was also the first to climb Everest, Lhotse and Makalu within 48 hours and co-led the first winter ascent of K2 (2021). He was appointed MBE (2018) and featured in the Netflix film *14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible*.

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Eight-thousanders: 14 peaks above 8,000 m | Highest peak: Mount Everest (8,849 m) | K2 (8,611 m): 2nd highest, first winter ascent 2021 | Broad Peak: 12th highest (8,051 m) | Netflix film: '14 Peaks'

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Record-breaking mountaineer Nirmal 'Nims' Purja - who climbed all 14 eight-thousanders in 6 months 6 days - died in an avalanche on Broad Peak.

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