The body of celebrated British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja has been recovered from Broad Peak in Pakistan, approximately 5,700 meters up the mountain, rescuers confirmed on Sunday. The Alpine Club of Pakistan stated that three additional bodies have been sighted at the same altitude, though their identities remain unconfirmed.

Purja, 43, was among 10 individuals confirmed to have died in an avalanche that struck the Karakoram mountain range. His company, Elite Expeditions, announced his death on Saturday. The incident has drawn tributes from prominent figures, including the Prince of Wales.

Rescuers from the Alpine Club of Pakistan reported that a ground team would transport the recovered bodies to a Japanese camp. Prior to the confirmation of Purja's death, Pakistani officials had announced the recovery of three other climbers from his expedition: American Mallory Geis, Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy from Oman, and Pur Bahadur Gurung from Nepal.

The avalanche occurred on Thursday on the 8,047-meter (26,400ft) peak, the world's 12th-highest summit. Search efforts for the multinational climbing group, which Purja was leading, have been ongoing since the disaster. The group was part of an expedition on Broad Peak.

Nirmal Purja, also known as Nimsdai, gained international recognition for his extraordinary mountaineering feats. In 2019, he set a world record by climbing all 14 mountains with peaks exceeding 8,000 meters in just over six months, significantly surpassing the previous record. His achievements were further highlighted in a Netflix documentary.

Prime Minister of Nepal, Balendra Shah, expressed shock at the tragic loss of six Nepalese and four foreign climbers, including Purja. He remarked that their "history of courage, dedication, and contributions will always remain inspiring."

Kamal Purja, Nirmal's older brother, shared his devastation, stating, "Although our hearts are broken, we are incredibly proud of you. Your legacy will live forever." Prince William noted his sadness, acknowledging Purja's distinguished military service before becoming a renowned mountaineer.

Naila Kiani, a spokesperson for the Alpine Club of Pakistan involved in the rescue, described Purja as a "very experienced climber and fearless," noting his leadership on many expeditions. She conveyed fears that all members of the group had perished in the avalanche.