Mountaineer Nirmal Purja's final message before fatal broad peak avalanche: 'Never took a mountain for granted'
Record-breaking mountaineer Nirmal Purja, widely known as Nimsdai, has died after an avalanche struck Broad Peak in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's Gilgit-Baltistan region, where he was leading
Record-breaking mountaineer Nirmal Purja, widely known as Nimsdai, has died after an avalanche struck Broad Peak in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's Gilgit-Baltistan region, where he was leading a climbing expedition on Thursday. The news of his death was confirmed on Saturday by Elite Exped, the expedition company he co-founded. In a statement, the company said several members of the team also lost their lives in the avalanche. Among those named were Pur Bahadur Gurung and Nima Sherpa. The organisation requested privacy for the bereaved families during this difficult time. Purja, celebrated for redefining modern high-altitude mountaineering, had recently spoken about his ambitions for the climb and reflected on his journey in what has now become his final public message. Why Was Nirmal Purja Climbing Broad Peak? According to a post shared by Purja on X on July 27, Broad Peak was not originally part of his climbing plans. The British-Nepali climber explained that his primary objective had been Project Hattrick, an expedition focused on climbing Gasherbrum II (G2). However, shortly before leaving for Pakistan, he realised that adding Broad Peak to his expedition would bring him one step closer to a historic achievement.
Also Read | Nirmal Purja declared dead after avalanche on Pakistan's Gasherbrum IV peak If successful, he would have needed only Cho Oyu to become the first mountaineer to summit all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres twice without supplemental oxygen. That possibility prompted him to include Broad Peak in his schedule. Nirmal Purja's Final Message Before The Expedition In the same post on X, Purja shared a heartfelt note about the mountain he was preparing to climb. "Broad Peak, I ask for nothing but safe passage up and back down." He added that despite years of experience in extreme mountaineering, he had never underestimated any mountain and approached every expedition with humility and complete focus. According to Purja, each step beyond base camp demanded total respect, and he never considered success guaranteed regardless of previous accomplishments. How The Search Operation Unfolded Hope initially remained after Thursday's avalanche when Purja's tracking device indicated movement, leading rescuers to believe he might have survived. Search teams reportedly thought he was alive and conscious while awaiting assistance.
However, as rescue operations progressed, the chances of finding survivors diminished. A drone launched from the expedition's base camp later detected what appeared to be the bodies of four climbers near Camp I on Broad Peak's Concordia side. Those believed to have been located included Nirmal Purja, Kili Pemba Sherpa, Nima Sherpa and Wang Zhong. According to search teams, the avalanche may have claimed the lives of as many as ten climbers. From The Military To Mountaineering Records Born in Nepal, Purja spent 16 years in military service, including six years with the Gurkhas and 10 years with the UK Special Forces, before turning his attention to professional mountaineering. He later became one of the three leaders of Elite Exped, alongside Mingma David Sherpa and Tejan Gurung. Purja earned global recognition in 2019 after completing one of mountaineering's most remarkable achievements—climbing all 14 mountains above 8,000 metres in less than seven months. The feat was later documented in a Netflix film, introducing his story to audiences around the world. His journey into high-altitude climbing began unexpectedly during a 2012 trek to Everest Base Camp.
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