Kathmandu, Aug. 1 -- Nirmal Purja, the Nepal-born former special forces soldier who stunned the mountaineering world by summiting all 14 of the planet's 8,000-metre peaks in six months, has died in an avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak. He was 43.

Purja's death was confirmed in a statement by Elite Expedition on its social account on Saturday. "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," the statement said. "We have also received confirmation that other members of the expedition sadly did not survive."

Purja was on Broad Peak as part of an expedition when an avalanche struck the team on July 30, 2026. Pakistani mountaineer...