A chilling final image of Nirmal 'Nims' Purja and his multinational expedition has emerged days after the catastrophic Broad Peak avalanche that claimed the lives of all 10 climbers.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleThe mountaineering community witnessed one of its most devastating tragedies this week. A group of ten climbers, led by British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal "Nimsdai" Purja, became the victims of a catastrophic Broad Peak avalanche that claimed all of their lives. With the rescue operations still ongoing, a chilling final image of Nims Purja and his multinational expedition has emerged.
A haunting image believed to be the last photograph of the legendary Nimsdai and his nine teammates has taken over social media. Taken from Broad Peak's base camp moments before disaster struck, the now-viral photo shows the multinational expedition making steady progress up the mountain. The accompanying clip captures a massive avalanche engulfing the slope.
The reel, shared by Pakistan-based tour operator Karakoram Vision, captures a heartbreaking final glimpse of one of mountaineering's darkest tragedies in recent years. The photograph surfaced shortly after Elite Exped confirmed Purja's death.
The photo and accompanying video document the team's final ascent, making Purja's last message about seeking "safe passage" even more heartbreaking. The person recording the video from the base camp can be heard saying, "Oh god! That's (the avalanche) not gonna reach us, is it?", while the other person says, "No...not sure." Sharing the devastating moment on Instagram, the group said in the post:
"Our team captured this footage yesterday, July 30, right before tragedy struck. We were watching from base camp and could clearly see the 10 international climbers—including world-famous mountaineer Nirmal “Nims” Purja—pushing up the mountain. Suddenly, a massive avalanche triggered above them. After the snow cleared, we scanned the upper slopes with horror. No one was visible anymore. It’s a big tragedy on Broad Peak."
See the post here.
The footage has since spread widely across social media, with many describing it as one of the most chilling recordings ever captured during a Himalayan expedition.
Just days before setting off for Broad Peak, Purja revealed that climbing the mountain had never been part of his original plan. Writing on X, the British-Nepali mountaineer explained that he had initially intended to summit only Gasherbrum II before realizing Broad Peak would leave him just one mountain short of becoming the first person to climb all 14 eight-thousanders twice without supplemental oxygen. He wrote:
"Broad Peak, I ask for nothing but safe passage up and back down. I take zero mountains for granted. Not one. The moment my foot leaves basecamp, it’s 100%. Always has been. Always will be. This one is dedicated to everyone who carried me here. Supporters. Critics. All of you. Without both sides, there is no fire. So thank you genuinely. My purpose has never been about me. It’s about what I represent. It’s about showing YOU that your own mountains—whatever they are—are climbable."
Tragically, the mountains didn't pay heed to his prayers this time. The expedition ended in tragedy when a powerful avalanche struck the team at around 7,000 meters on Broad Peak. Elite Exped, the expedition company he co-founded, confirmed on Saturday, August 1, 2026, that Purja and other members of the 10-person expedition had lost their lives in the disaster.
Search and rescue teams battling harsh weather have recovered several bodies from the mountain, including American climber Sarah Mallory Geis, Omani mountaineer Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy, and Nepali guide Pur Bahadur Gurung. Drone reconnaissance later helped rescuers locate the remaining members of the expedition in the avalanche zone and recover two more bodies, including Kili Pemba Sherpa (Nepal) and Nimsdai Purja.
Purja rose to global fame after climbing all 14 of the world's 8,000-metre peaks in just over six months in 2019. His feat was later chronicled in Netflix's 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible. His older brother, Kamal, has released a statement confirming his passing. He wrote:
"It is with the heaviest heart that I share the devastating news that my beloved younger brother, Nirmal 'Nimsdai' Purja, and the other climbers are no longer with us. Although our hearts are broken, we are incredibly proud of you. Your legacy will live forever."
This marks the deadliest disaster in Broad Peak's climbing history, with the previous worst incident occurring in 2013, when six climbers lost their lives. Our thoughts are with the victims' loved ones.
Read Next: Nirmal Nims Purja's Wife Revealed What Husband Asked Her To Remember If He Failed To Deliver Message