Renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja, also referred to as “Nimsdai,” passed away on Thursday after an avalanche struck Broad Peak in Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, where he was conducting an expedition.
“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,” his company, Elite Exped, announced in a statement on Saturday.
“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,” it added.
Rescue personnel initially thought he was still alive, conscious, and in need of assistance. As the hours passed, it became evident that there was very little possibility of discovering any survivors from the Broad Peak avalanche. When a drone from Base Camp spotted what appeared to be the bodies of four climbers—Nirmal Purja “Nimsdai,” Kili Pemba Sherpa, Nima Sherpa, and Wang Zhong—just below Camp I on the Concordia side of the mountain, search and rescue personnel said their worst fears were validated.
Along with Mingma David Sherpa and Tejan Gurung, who managed Elite Exped, a company that specialises in providing customised guiding experiences on the highest mountains in the world, Nirmal Purja, MBE, was one of three mountaineers who broke records. Nimsdai, who was born in Nepal, had a long 16-year military career, including 10 years with the UK Special Forces (SBS) and six years with the elite Gurkha regiment.
He also collaborated on a Netflix documentary, ’14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible’, on the feat. His climbing career began almost by chance: during a 2012 trek to Everest Base Camp, he chose to press on to the summit rather than turn back as originally planned.
The mountaineer also faced criticism and allegations, but did not let anything shake his passion. He addressed these in his last post as well.
“Here’s the secret I’ve carried through every expedition: I never competed with anyone else. My only battle was against the man I was yesterday. Every single day, pushing my own limits. Because the moment you look sideways: at what others are doing, saying, achieving: you drift off your compass. Your heading is YOURS. Guard it fiercely,” he wrote.
