New Delhi, Aug. 3 -- Renowned British-Nepali climber Nirmal Purja and nine other climbers swept away by an avalanche in Pakistan are confirmed to have died, and search teams were trying to recover their bodies, Purja's expedition company said Saturday.

"The world has lost one of mountaineering's greatest climbers," the company, Elite Exped, said in a statement, adding that all the lives lost were being mourned. "No words can ease the pain of this unimaginable loss."

The 10-member expedition was swept away by an avalanche Thursday on Pakistan's Broad Peak.

Rescuers found four bodies and recovered three of them Friday in harsh weather that hampered flights by search and rescue helicopters. Rescuers backed by military helicopters had resu...