Nirmal Purja, the Nepali-born mountaineer celebrated for breaking speed records on the world’s tallest mountains, has died in an avalanche in Pakistan, according to his company. News of his death was also reported by officials in Nepal following the climbing disaster.
Purja became one of the best-known names in high-altitude climbing after scaling all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks in just over six months in 2019. That achievement brought him international attention and established him as one of the sport’s standout figures.
A social media statement from Nepal’s prime minister said the incident also claimed the lives of six Nepalese climbers and four other foreign climbers, with Purja among those identified. The reports point to a major tragedy involving multiple members of the climbing community.
The loss of Purja is likely to be felt far beyond mountaineering circles because of his record-setting ascents and high profile in the sport. At this stage, the available details focus on the avalanche in Pakistan and the confirmation of the deaths rather than a fuller account of how the accident unfolded.
