Famous mountaineer Nirmal Purja was one of ten climbers killed in an avalanche on Broad Peak, Pakistan’s 12th-tallest mountain, on Thursday. The 26,414-foot mountain is part of the Karakoram range.

Elite Exped, the company involved in the expedition, expressed sorrow in a statement, mourning the loss of Purja and all lives claimed in the tragedy.

Nirmal Purja had garnered recognition through the Netflix documentary “14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible,” released in 2021. He attempted to climb the world’s 14 tallest mountains in seven months. During a news conference in Kathmandu, Nepal, in May 2019, he spoke about his feat of scaling six mountains, including Mount Everest, as part of this endeavor. The climbers on the ill-fated expedition were from diverse nations, including Pakistan, Nepal, China, and the U.K.

American climber Sarah Mallory Geis was among those recovered by the Pakistani rescue team on Friday. Deteriorating weather conditions forced a temporary halt to the operation in the challenging terrain. The search resumed Saturday with efforts to recover the remaining seven bodies.

Alpine Club of Pakistan President Irfan Arshad Khan highlighted the climbers’ courage and passion, acknowledging their loss as immeasurable to the global mountaineering community. He praised the collective efforts of the military, Sherpas, and civilians in the mission.

Nirmal Purja was notable not only for his mountaineering achievements but also for his service in the British army, particularly within the Gurkhas and later in the British special forces. British Defense Minister Wes Streeting hailed him as an inspirational figure, revered for his adventurous spirit.

The Associated Press and Reuters provided additional information for this report.