- All 10 climbers swept away by an avalanche in Pakistan have been confirmed dead, and the expedition was swept away by an avalanche on Thursday on Pakistan’s Broad Peak.
- The remains of British-Nepali climber Nirmal Purja and three other climbers were found by a ground team on Broad Peak; the Alpine Club of Pakistan identified the recovered climbers as Purja, Wang Zhong, Nima Sherpa and Kili Pemba Sherpa.
- Rescuers located four other bodies but recovered only three — Omani Nathira Ahmed, American Mallory Geis and Nepalese Bahadur Gurung — because harsh weather grounded search-and-rescue helicopters.
- Police official Tahir Khan said the remains of Omani climber Nathira Ahmed were being flown to Islamabad, while the bodies of Mallory Geis and Bahadur Gurung remained at a hospital in Skardu.
- The expedition was led by Purja, the Nepal-born former British Army soldier known as Nims Dai, who climbed the world’s 14 highest peaks in a record 189 days in 2019.
- China’s embassy in Pakistan said a Chinese mountaineer also was among the missing after the avalanche, Xinhua News Agency reported Sunday.
- Elite Exped mourned the losses: “The world has lost one of mountaineering's greatest climbers,” adding, “No words can ease the pain of this unimaginable loss.”
- Alpine Club of Pakistan president Irfan Arshad Khan called the deaths “an immeasurable loss to the global mountaineering fraternity,” and the club praised military and civilian rescuers and volunteers.
All 10 climbers on Nirmal Purja's expedition to Broad Peak have been confirmed dead after an avalanche struck on Thursday. The climbers included Purja, Wang Zhong, Nima Sherpa, Kili Pemba Sherpa, Nathira Ahmed, Mallory Geis, and Bahadur Gurung, among others.1234678
Rescue efforts faced severe challenges due to harsh weather, which grounded helicopters. Four bodies were located initially, but only three were recovered due to these conditions. The Alpine Club of Pakistan expressed deep sorrow, stating, “The loss of these courageous climbers... is an immeasurable loss to the global mountaineering fraternity.”5
Purja, a celebrated climber known for his record of summiting the world’s 14 highest peaks in just 189 days, was leading the expedition. His achievements were highlighted in the Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible, which showcased his remarkable skills and determination.
The tragedy has drawn condolences from around the world, with Elite Exped stating, “The world has lost one of mountaineering's greatest climbers.” The recovery operation continues, with local authorities working to return the remains of the deceased climbers to their families.10
China’s embassy in Pakistan also reported that a Chinese mountaineer was among the missing after the avalanche, underscoring the international nature of this tragic event.9
“Elite Exped said, "The world has lost one of mountaineering's greatest climbers," adding, "No words can ease the pain of this unimaginable loss." Rescuers located four other bodies Friday but recovered only three — Omani Nathira Ahmed, American Mallory Geis and Nepalese Bahadur Gurung — because harsh weather grounded helicopters.”
