August 1, 2026 / 8:28 AM EDT
/ CBS/AP
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Famed British Nepali climber Nirmal Purja has been confirmed dead after being swept away by an avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak earlier this week, his expedition company said Saturday."It is with profound sadness and immense heartbreak that we confirm that Nirmal Purja tragically lost his life following the avalanche on Broad Peak," Purja's company Elite Expeditions said on social media. "We have also received confirmation that other members of the expedition sadly did not survive."Rescuers backed by military helicopters resumed the search Saturday for at least six members of a 10-member expedition who were swept away by the avalanche. Three of the four bodies found so far have been recovered, officials said.A local police official, Tahir Khan, said the remains of Omani climber Nathira Ahmed were being flown to the capital, Islamabad, while the bodies of American climber Mallory Geis and Nepalese climber Bahadur Gurung remained at a hospital in Skardu, the main city in Pakistan's northern Gilgit-Baltistan region.He said the search-and-rescue efforts were ongoing despite fading hopes.The team lost contact with their base camp Thursday after an avalanche struck Broad Peak as they attempted to scale the mountain, said Karrar Haidri, vice president of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, on Friday.He said there has been no contact since then and that experienced Pakistani climbers and army helicopters are taking part in the search-and-rescue operation.
