The mountain climbing world record holder who got a movie on Netflix was killed in an avalanche

Mountaineering world record holder who even had a Netflix movie, Nirmal “Nimsday” Forge, was killed in an avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak, the 12th highest peak in the world. Along with him, nine other members of the multinational climbing expedition he led were killed.

His climbing company, Elite Expeditions, confirmed his death on social media. “Today, with deep sorrow and tremendous heartbreak, we confirm that Nirmal ‘Nimsday’ Porja tragically lost his life following an avalanche on Broad Peak. We also received confirmation that unfortunately, other members of the expedition did not survive,” it said. And to the other five Nepalese climbers who perished in the event: “The tragic death of six Nepalese climbers and four foreigners in the Karakoram range shocked us. The history of their courage and dedication will always remain a source of inspiration”. The 43rd rose to global consciousness in 2019, after breaking a world record: Climbing all 14 peaks in the world that are over 8,000 meters high in just 189 days. This, while smashing the previous record that stood for more than seven years. His inspiring journey was documented in the successful film that appeared on Netflix: “14 Summits: Nothing is Impossible”.

Prior to his climbing career, Forge served 16 years in the British Army. He spent a decade in elite units, and was the first Gurkha soldier to climb Everest during his service. In 2018, he was even awarded an MBE on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II for his achievements in the field of climbing under extreme conditions.

In the last post he published on the X network a few days before the disaster, Forge shared that the climb on Mount Broad – As mentioned, the 12th highest mountain in the world (8,047 meters) – was not in his original plan. “But just before leaving, I realized that if I also climbed Broad Peak, I would only have one mountain left to become the first person in history to climb all 14 of the highest peaks in the world twice – and without oxygen. It was not planned, but opportunities don’t shout – they whisper to those who are already working in silence.”

In his last words he wrote: “Broad Peak, I ask for nothing but safe passage up and back down. I don’t take any mountain for granted”.

Mount Broad Peak is considered one of the most challenging and dangerous mountains in the world. Since the breakthrough of the first Austrian expedition to conquer the summit in 1957, dozens of climbers have lost their lives on its slopes, with one of the deadliest years on the mountain being 2013, when at least six deaths were recorded.