Body of Netflix climbing star Nirmal Purja is found after deadly avalanche - as friend Spencer Matthews pays heartbroken tribute

A British special forces climber was confirmed dead today after his party went missing in a Pakistani avalanche. Nirmal Purja, known as Nims – who was born in Nepal and served in the British Army and Royal Marines, was among six people missing after an avalanche struck Broad Peak mountain around 12pm local time on Thursday. Earlier, former reality TV star Spencer Matthews said he was praying 'for a miracle' for his friend. Mr Purja, 43, was leading an expedition of ten climbers on Broad Peak – the world's 12th highest mountain. His body was found along other members of the expedition following search efforts, his climbing company Elite Expeditions said in a social media post on Saturday. Mr Purja joined the British Army in 2003 and the Special Boat Service – the special forces unit of the Royal Navy – in 2009. Three explorers, Nepalese climber Pur Bahadur Gurung, Omani climber Nathira Ahmed and American climber Mallory Geis were yesterday confirmed as dead. Today, Elite Expeditions confirmed Nima Sherpa and Mr Purja died in the avalanche. A British special forces climber was confirmed dead today after his party went missing in a Pakistani avalancheIt is unclear what happened to the other missing five climbers.The expedition comprised of five Nepali climbers in addition to the Omani and American climbers, Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi, a Chinese climber identified only as Wang and one other foreign climber, according to the Alpine Club. British adventurer Bear Grylls paid tribute to Mr Purja, writing on Instagram: 'Heartbreaking news for so many climbers around the world who had a relationship with this remarkable and unique man. We will never forget you Nims and your unstoppable spirit.'In a post shared on Instagram, Elite Expeditions said: 'Today, it is with profound sadness and immense heartbreak that we confirm that Nirmal ‘Nimsdai’ Purja, tragically lost his life following the avalanche on Broad Peak. 'We have also received confirmation that other members of this expedition sadly did not survive.'Today, we mourn not only Nims, but every life lost in this tragedy including his trusted climbing partners and guides, Pur Bahadur Gurung (Yukta) and Nima Sherpa.'Our deepest thoughts, prayers and heartfelt condolences are with their families, friends and loved ones. No words can erase the pain of this unimaginable loss, and we ask that everyone respects their privacy as they grieve.' Broad Peak, at 8,047 meters (26,401 feet), is the world's 12th-highest mountain. It lies in Pakistan's Karakoram range, home to five of the world's 14 peaks above 8,000 meters, attracting climbers from around the globe. Earlier, former reality TV star Spencer Matthews said he was praying 'for a miracle' for his friend British adventurer Bear Grylls paid tribute to Mr Purja on Instagram Purja, who appeared on the 2021 film 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible, was confirmed dead todayMr Purja previously appeared with former reality TV star Mr Matthews in the 2023 documentary Finding Michael. It followed an expedition to Mount Everest in search of the former Made in Chelsea star's late brother, Michael, who disappeared there in 1999. Despite searching with a team, they did not locate Michael. Mr Matthews shared a photo with the mountaineer on Instagram and said the news from Broad Peak was 'heartbreaking'. The 37-year-old said in the post: 'The mountains inspire us with their beauty but they also demand immense respect.'Every person who ventures into that world understands the risks, yet they go anyway, driven by curiosity, purpose, passion and a deep love for the places few will ever experience.'The news from Broad Peak is heartbreaking. So many lives, families, friends and teammates now facing unimaginable loss. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy. May those who have been lost be remembered not only for how they died, but for how they lived, the courage they showed, and the lived they touched. Rest in peace.' Mr Purja rose to prominence in 2019 when he climbed all 14 of the world's mountains with peaks above 8,000m (26,247ft) in 189 days – smashing the previous record by more than seven years. Broad Peak, at 8,047 meters (26,401 feet), is the world's 12th-highest mountain Mr Purjal's documentary received critical acclaim upon its releaseThe challenge was the focus of a Netflix documentary called 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible. At the time, he said: 'It has been a gruelling but humbling six months, and I hope to have proven that anything is possible with some determination, self-belief and positivity.'I could not have made it happen without the unending support of my friends and family who have been in my heart this entire time. We started with nothing, but look how far we’ve come.' He served in the British military for 16 years, ten of which were spent in the special forces, and he was awarded an MBE by the late Queen in 2018 for his achievement in extreme high-altitude mountaineering. The cold weather warfare specialist said he was the first Gurkha to climb Everest while serving in the British military. In 2016, he broke mountaineering conventions to rescue a climber left in the 'Everest death zone', bringing her to safety alone.