Mountaineer Nirmal Purja, known for his record-breaking ascent of the world's 14 highest peaks, was among 10 people killed in an avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak, his company announced.
Elite Expeditions confirmed Purja's death in a social media post on Thursday, stating with profound sadness that the entire 10-person expedition team did not survive the incident. The company had previously confirmed the recovery of three climbers: Mallory Geis from the United States, Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy from Oman, and Pur Bahadur Gurung from Nepal.
Purja, a Nepal-born former British Army soldier, gained international recognition in 2019 for summiting all 14 of the world's highest mountains in just over six months. This achievement set a new world record for the fastest ascent of the peaks.