- Nirmal 'Nimsdai' Purja was confirmed dead after an avalanche on Broad Peak, along with other expedition members, by Elite Exped.
- Purja and five other climbers had been missing since Friday after an avalanche struck along Broad Peak's standard West Ridge route at an altitude between 21,600 and 21,850 feet.
- Pakistan recovered bodies from the mountain, including one identified as Nadhira Al Harthy, the first Omani woman to summit Everest.
- Elite Exped mourned Nims and every life lost, including climbing partners Pur Bahadur Gurung (Yukta) and Nima Sherpa.
- Oman’s Al Harthy held a master’s degree in geography and previously served as director of the Citizenship Department at Oman’s Ministry of Education; in 2019, she became the first Omani woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest and the first Omani to climb K2.
- For the US’s Geis, it was her first try at an 8,000-metre peak in Pakistan; Geis, 39, lived in San Antonio and was closing her Pilates studio to take ’a giant leap of faith into the unknown.
- Officials did not immediately identify the fourth body; the expedition comprised five Nepali climbers, the Omani and American climbers, Sohail Sakhi, a Chinese climber identified only as Wang, and one other foreign climber, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan.
Nirmal 'Nims' Purja, a legendary mountaineer, tragically lost his life in an avalanche on Broad Peak, along with three other climbers, including Nadhira Al Harthy, the first Omani woman to summit Everest, and Sarah Mallory Geis, an American novice.12345
The avalanche struck on Thursday at an altitude between 21,600 and 21,850 feet, sweeping away Purja and five others. Rescuers have since recovered three bodies, identified as Pur Bahadur Gurung, a renowned Nepalese climber, and Al Harthy, while Geis was also confirmed among the deceased.
The search continues for six climbers still missing in the remote and challenging conditions of the Karakoram mountain range. The expedition included five Nepali climbers, a Pakistani, a Chinese climber, and Purja, who was leading the team.1112
Purja, known for his record-breaking climbs, including summiting all 14 of the world's highest peaks in just 189 days, was a former soldier in the British army and a prominent figure in modern mountaineering. His achievements were highlighted in the Netflix documentary *14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible*.
The mountaineering community mourns the loss of Purja, with his company, Elite Exped, stating, "Today, we mourn not only Nims, but every life lost in this tragedy."6
The area where the search is taking place is described as “remote and difficult,” complicating rescue efforts.
The tragedy has sparked an outpouring of grief and remembrance for Purja, who inspired many through his courage and leadership.
“Rescuers continue searching for six climbers still missing after the avalanche, which struck Broad Peak's West Ridge route at about 21,600 to 21,850 feet. Officials identified one recovered body as Nadhira Al Harthy, the first Omani woman to summit Everest, while the fourth body that was found has not yet been identified.”
