Nirmal Purja: How a generation of record-setting guides died in a disaster which klled a climbing legend
A tragic avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak has claimed the lives of six Nepali mountain guides, including the renowned climber Nirmal Purja. The incident is considered a major loss for the global mountaineering community, as the victims were highly decorated professionals.
Why it matters
The deaths highlight the extreme risks faced by Sherpas and mountain guides who are increasingly recognized for their own elite skills rather than just as support staff.
Image source, PA Image caption, British-Nepali climber Nirmal Purja, who led the Broad Peak expedition, was best known for speed climbing the "14 peaks"
Altogether, they summited Mount Everest dozens of times and achieved numerous feats previously thought impossible - like climbing 8,000m peaks without supplemental oxygen and scaling K2, one of the world's most lethal mountains, in the dead of winter.
But beyond these accomplishments, the six Nepalis who died in an avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak last week also elevated the world's recognition of Nepali mountain guides, or Sherpas, who had previously been seen as mere aides.
Among those killed was the decorated British-Nepali climber Nirmal Purja , best known for climbing the world's 14 highest peaks, rising above 8,000m (26,246 ft), in just over six months.
Their fellow guides say their deaths deal a devastating blow to Nepal's mountaineering community.
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