A British mountaineer and former Gurkha, Nirmal Purja, is feared dead following an avalanche on Broad Peak, the world’s twelfth highest mountain, located in northern Pakistan. The incident occurred on Thursday during an expedition led by Purja involving a group of ten climbers from multiple countries, including Nepal, Pakistan, Oman, the United States, and China.

According to officials, four bodies have been recovered so far, although their identities have not been disclosed. Rescue efforts continue despite challenging weather conditions that have hampered helicopter operations. The Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) confirmed that there has been no communication from any of the missing climbers since the avalanche occurred. The ACP’s president, Major General Irfan Arshad, has been coordinating with government agencies to facilitate an immediate search and rescue mission.

Nirmal Purja, 43, known as Nims, rose to international prominence in 2019 when he completed the climbing of all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters in a world record time of 189 days, far surpassing the previous record of nearly eight years. Born in a village in western Nepal, Purja joined the elite Brigade of Gurkhas as a teenager and later served in the British Army and Royal Marines for 16 years, including 10 years in special forces units. He was awarded an MBE in 2018 for his achievements in extreme high-altitude mountaineering.

Purja’s 2019 challenge was documented in the Netflix film “14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible,” which highlighted the skills of Nepalese Sherpas and raised awareness about climate change and global warming. Purja had expressed his desire to showcase the talent of Nepali climbers through his expeditions.

General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, expressed his concern on social media, offering prayers and support for Purja and the missing climbers, reflecting the UK armed forces community’s hopes for their safe return.

The expedition team was comprised of five Nepalese climbers, including Purja, alongside mountaineers representing Pakistan, Oman, the US, China, and an unidentified foreign national. The search for the missing members continues amid ongoing adverse weather conditions in the mountainous region.