Nirmal Purja, the celebrated Nepalese mountaineer and former British Army and Royal Marines soldier, has tragically died in an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan.

The Prince of Wales expressed his profound sorrow, describing Mr Purja as "one of the world’s greatest mountaineers" and "truly unique".

Mr Purja was leading an expedition of 10 climbers on Broad Peak, the world’s 12th highest mountain, when the avalanche struck around midday on Thursday.

Following extensive search efforts, his company, Elite Exped, confirmed his death.

In a social media post on Saturday evening, Prince William shared his condolences. "I was truly saddened to hear of the tragic death of Nirmal Purja and those who lost their lives in the avalanche on Broad Peak," he wrote.

"Nims served with distinction in the British Armed Forces before becoming one of the world’s greatest mountaineers, putting Nepalese climbers on the map. His relentless pursuit of what seemed impossible, combined with his humility and selflessness, made him truly unique. My thoughts are with his family and the families of all those who died."

The message was signed "W".

Elite Exped also released a statement via Instagram, confirming the devastating news. "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," the company stated.

"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."

Mr Purja, 43, rose to international prominence in 2019 when he shattered mountaineering records by climbing all 14 of the world’s mountains with peaks above 8,000 metres (26,247ft) in just 189 days, eclipsing the previous record by more than seven years.

This extraordinary feat was chronicled in the Netflix documentary "14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible." His ascent began with Annapurna on April 23 2019, and included Everest in May and K2 in July, all within the perilous "death zone."

His distinguished military career spanned 16 years, with a decade spent in the special forces.

He was awarded an MBE by the late Queen in 2018 for his achievements in extreme high-altitude mountaineering. A cold weather warfare specialist, Mr Purja was also the first Gurkha to climb Everest while serving in the British military.

In a testament to his character, he famously broke mountaineering conventions in 2016 to single-handedly rescue a climber stranded in the "Everest death zone."

Tributes poured in from across the adventure community. British adventurer Bear Grylls posted 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."

Mr Purja also collaborated with former Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews in the documentary "Finding Michael," released in 2023, to help recover the body of Matthews' brother, Michael, who disappeared on Everest in 1999.

Earlier on Saturday, Mr Matthews had shared a photo with Mr Purja on Instagram, expressing his prayers "for a miracle" and describing the news from Broad Peak as "heartbreaking."

He wrote: "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 lives they touched. Rest in peace. To those not yet found, we pray for a miracle."