Record-breaking mountaineer Nirmal Purja
In this picture taken on January 21, 2021, Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja speaks during an interview with AFP in Skardu, a city district of the Gilgit-Baltistan region in northern Pakistan. - Record-breaking mountaineer Nirmal Purja is no stranger to dazzling ascents or freezing expeditions, but the hardened Nepali has confirmed his place in history after leading a stunning K2 triumph. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP) / TO GO WITH Nepal-Pakistan-Mountaineering-Nirmal Purja, PROFILE by Zain Zaman Janjua, with Cyril Belaud in Islamabad (Photo by AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images)

Body of '14 Peaks' Netflix Star Recovered Following Deadly Broad Peak Avalanche

The body of renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja has been recovered from Broad Peak in Pakistan following a deadly avalanche.

The body of renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja has been recovered from Broad Peak in Pakistan following the devastating avalanche that claimed multiple lives.

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Rescuers confirmed they located Purja, 43, at an altitude of around 5,700 meters on the mountain.

He was found alongside three other bodies, whose identities had not been officially confirmed as of Sunday.

Purja's company, Elite Exped, announced his death on Saturday, stating that 10 people had been killed in the avalanche.

Broad Peak Avalanche Claims Mountaineering Legend

The avalanche struck on Thursday, quickly turning the expedition into a major search-and-rescue operation.

Rescue teams initially recovered the bodies of three other climbers from Purja's expedition.

Those were American Mallory Geis, Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy of Oman and Pur Bahadur Gurung of Nepal.

Naila Kiani, a spokesperson for the Alpine Club of Pakistan, said there were growing fears that all members of the group had died.

Search teams worked around the clock on Broad Peak, the world's 12th-highest mountain in Pakistan's Karakoram range, before the worst fears were confirmed.

Prince William Leads Tributes to Nirmal Purja

Born in Nepal, Purja later served in the British Army before becoming one of the world's most accomplished high-altitude climbers.

He gained international recognition in 2019 after climbing the world's 14 highest peaks in just over six months. It was a feat documented in the 2021 Netflix film 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible.

"I was truly saddened to hear of the tragic death of Nirmal Purja and those who lost their lives in the avalanche on Broad Peak," Prince William said on X.

"Nims served with distinction in the British Armed Forces before becoming one of the world's greatest mountaineers, putting Nepalese climbers on the map."

"His relentless pursuit of what seemed impossible, combined with his humility and selflessness, made him truly unique. My thoughts are with his family and the families of all those who died."

Purja served in the British military for 16 years, including a decade in the Special Forces.

He received an MBE from the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2018 for his achievements in extreme high-altitude mountaineering.

The 43-year-old lived in Hampshire, England, with his wife and three-year-old daughter. He became the first Gurkha to summit Mount Everest while serving in the British military.

Purja had previously said Broad Peak was not originally part of his plans. Instead, he intended to climb Gasherbrum II.

Had he successfully reached the summit of Broad Peak, he would have been close to making history.

He would have needed just one more mountain to become the first person in history to climb all 14 eight-thousanders twice without supplemental oxygen.