Avalanche On Pakistan's Broad Peak Kills 10 Climbers, Including American
An avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan killed ten climbers, including famed British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal "Nimsdai" Purja and American Mallory Geis, officials and the climbers' company said.[1]
Elite Expeditions, Purja's company, issued a statement confirming his death and saying all other members of the expedition also died.[1] The American was identified as 39-year-old Mallory Geis of San Antonio, Texas; she had closed her Pilates studio earlier in 2026 to pursue high-altitude climbing.[1] The Alpine Club of Pakistan said the expedition included climbers from Oman, Nepal, Pakistan, China and the United States.[1]
Purja, 43, was a widely known high-altitude mountaineer who led commercial expeditions through his company Elite Expeditions.[1] Nepal Prime Minister Balendra "Balen" Shah publicly confirmed the deaths of the Nepalese climbers in a social media post.[1]
Local police said Pakistani military helicopters, high-altitude porters and rescue teams searched the area in difficult terrain and weather before confirming the deaths and flying some remains to hospitals.[1] PBS News also reported that all 10 climbers swept away in the avalanche were confirmed dead.[2]
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📌 Key Facts
- NPR confirms on Saturday, August 1, 2026, that famed British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal 'Nimsdai' Purja, 43, was among the 10 climbers killed in an avalanche on Broad Peak.
- Elite Expeditions, Purja’s company, issued a formal statement confirming his death and saying that all other members of the expedition also died.
- The American climber killed was 39-year-old Mallory Geis of San Antonio, Texas; she had closed her Pilates studio earlier in 2026 to pursue high-altitude climbing.
- The expedition included climbers from Oman, Nepal, Pakistan, China and the United States, the Alpine Club of Pakistan said.
- Local police said Pakistani military helicopters, high-altitude porters and rescue teams searched the area in difficult terrain and weather before confirming the deaths and flying some remains to hospitals.
- Nepal Prime Minister Balendra 'Balen' Shah publicly confirmed the deaths of the Nepalese climbers in a social media post on Saturday, August 1, 2026.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- NPR confirms on Saturday, August 1, 2026, that famed British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal 'Nimsdai' Purja, 43, was among the 10 climbers killed in the Broad Peak avalanche.
- Purja's company, Elite Expeditions, issued a formal statement confirming his death and stating that all other members of the expedition also died.
- The American climber killed is identified as 39-year-old Mallory Geis of San Antonio, Texas, with personal background including her decision earlier in 2026 to close her Pilates studio to pursue high-altitude climbing.
- The expedition team included climbers from Oman, Nepal, Pakistan, China and the United States, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan.
- Local police say Pakistani military helicopters, high-altitude porters and rescue teams searched the area in difficult terrain and weather before confirming the deaths and flying some remains to hospitals.
- Nepal Prime Minister Balendra 'Balen' Shah publicly confirmed the deaths of the Nepalese climbers in a social media post on Saturday.