Your legacy will live forever: Nepal mourns climber Nirmal Purja

Sun Sep 06 2026 17:59:37 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A wave of tributes pours into Nepal as mountaineer Nirmal Purja dies in a Broad Peak avalanche, symbolising loss for climbers worldwide.

Nirmal Purja, famed for summiting all fourteen 8,000‑meter peaks in six months, tragically perished when an avalanche engulfed an expedition on Pakistan’s Broad Peak. His death has stirred profound mourning across Nepal, with the Prime Minister, colleagues and former classmates offering heartfelt condolences. The climber’s enduring legacy, highlighted by his groundbreaking achievements and mentorship of Nepali guides, is celebrated as an inspiration for future generations. Eye‑opening details of the incident and Purja’s career, including recent allegations, further colour the narrative of his complex legacy.

Your legacy will live forever: Nepal mourns climber Nirmal Purja

Mourners and students light candles to offer their condolences after the death of mountaineer Nirmal Purja — Students and staff at Purja’s former school lit candles in commemoration of him

Tributes are pouring out across Nepal after an avalanche killed all ten members of an expedition on Pakistan’s Broad Peak, six of whom were Nepalese. Among the deceased was Nirmal Purja, also known as Nims, a British‑Nepali climber famously recognized for scaling all fourteen of the world’s 8,000‑meter peaks in just over six months.

His death has reverberated through the global mountaineering community, and he remains a celebrated figure in Nepal for bringing international acclaim to Nepali climbing guides.

Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah said the “history of courage, dedication and contribution” would always remain inspiring. In a moving tribute on Facebook, Purja’s brother Kamal declared, “I feel as though I have lost my whole world. My brother was not only my younger brother - he was my heart.”

“Although our hearts are broken, we are incredibly proud of you. Your legacy will live forever,” Kamal added. At the Small Heaven School in Chitwan district, near Kathmandu, where Purja once studied, students and staff lit candles and mourned his passing.

Former school supervisor Shailendra Baral recalled Purja’s fearless nature from a young age, noting his honesty and obedience. Friend Bahadur Panta expressed his prayers during the crisis, saying “It was not only me and my friends. I think people all over the world who knew him… prayed for him. But it was his fate, no one could avoid it.”

Social media were flooded with tributes, with many saying Nepal was in mourning and that the country had lost a “legend” and “many great climbers.” “Their legacy will live on,” one comment noted. Purja’s global fame grew after a 2021 Netflix documentary chronicled his record‑setting climb.

Among the ten members of the Broad Peak expedition were six Nepalis and four climbers from the United States, China, Oman and Pakistan. The mountain, standing at 8,047 m, is known for its perilous climbing routes; many have fallen while attempting the ascent.

Purja served for 16 years in the British military, ten of which were spent in special forces, earning an MBE from Queen Elizabeth II in 2018. He was also the first Gurkha to summit Everest while in service. Yet, after his fame rose, allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced, which he denied through legal representation.

The expedition also included other prominent Nepalese climbers such as Pur Bahadur Gurung, who has summited Everest ten times, and Kili Pemba Sherpa, a guide who helped the team summiting K2 in 2021.