UK mountaineer killed in Pakistani snowslide tragedy

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A renowned climber who served in the British special forces has died following an avalanche on one of the world’s highest mountains.

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According to Sky News, the company co-founded by Nirmal Purja – Elite Exped – has confirmed that the former British Army and Royal Marines soldier has died in Pakistan.

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Purja, known as Nims, was leading a 10-strong team on the 8,051m Broad Peak in the north of the country when the avalanche struck at around midday on Thursday.

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None of the group survived, the Alpine Club of Pakistan confirmed on Saturday.

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In a post shared on Instagram, Elite Exped said, “Today, it is with profound sadness and immense heartbreak that we confirm that Nirmal ‘Nimsdai’ Purja, tragically lost his life following the avalanche on Broad Peak. We have also received confirmation that other members of this expedition sadly did not survive.

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“Today, we mourn not only Nims, but every life lost in this tragedy, including his trusted climbing partners and guides, Pur Bahadur Gurung (Yukta) and Nima Sherpa.

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“Our deepest thoughts, prayers and heartfelt condolences are with their families, friends and loved ones. No words can erase the pain of this unimaginable loss, and we ask that everyone respects their privacy as they grieve.”

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Rescuers had launched a search for the missing climbers and initially found the bodies of four – identifying two of them as Nadhira Al Harthy from Oman, and Pur Bahadur Gurung “Yukta” from Nepal.

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Purja, 43, was a British citizen with an MBE, and one of the world’s most renowned climbers.

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He scaled the world’s 14 highest peaks in just six months in 2019, holding a record for the fastest climb until Norwegian climber Kristin Harila beat him four years later.

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His remarkable feat was the focus of a popular Netflix documentary, 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible, which showed him powering to the top of the mountains, each with peaks in the so-called “death zone”, starting with Annapurna on April 23 2019 and taking in Everest in May and K2 in July.

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