Prince William says he was 'truly saddened' to hear of the death of Netflix climbing star and former British Army soldier Nirmal Purja in avalanche

- Get your news delivered straight to you by 7am - sign up to our new Morning Mail newsletter for FREE - See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Prince William has said he was 'truly saddened to hear of the tragic death' of British special forces climber and Netflix star, Nirmal Purja. The former British Army soldier, 43, was confirmed dead yesterday after his party vanished in an avalanche on a Pakistani mountain, Broad Peak. Mr Purja, also known as Nims, was among several missing after the avalanche struck the world's 12th-highest mountain at around 12pm local time on Thursday. He had been leading an expedition of ten climbers across the mountain. All have been confirmed dead. His body was found alongside other members of the expedition following search efforts, his climbing company Elite Expeditions said on Saturday. Three explorers, Nepalese climber Pur Bahadur Gurung, Omani climber Nathira Ahmed and American climber Mallory Geis, were also confirmed to have died. The Prince of Wales paid tribute to the ex-serviceman, saying that he 'served with distinction' before 'becoming one of the world's greatest mountaineers'. '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 on X. '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.' Earlier today, Made in Chelsea star Spencer Matthews said he was praying 'for a miracle' for his mountaineering friend. A British special forces climber was confirmed dead today after his party went missing in a Pakistani avalanche Prince William has said he was 'truly saddened to hear of the tragic death' of British special forces climber and Netflix star, Nirmal Purja The Prince of Wales paid tribute to the ex-serviceman, saying that he 'served with distinction' before 'becoming one of the world's greatest mountaineers' It comes as the Prime Minister of Nepal, Balendra Shah, announced that ten people in total were killed in the avalanche. This included Mr Purja, as well as five Nepalis, one climber from Pakistan and Oman, another from America, and one Chinese participant. Naila Kiana, a spokeswoman for the Alpine Club of Pakistan, described Mr Purja, who had led many of the expeditions, as a 'very experienced climber' as well as 'fearless'. British adventurer Bear Grylls also paid tribute to the former British soldier, describing the incident as heartbreaking for 'so many climbers around the world' who knew him. 'We will never forget you, Nims and your unstoppable spirit,' he added. Mr Purja's company, Elite Expeditions, said in a statement: '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 (26,401ft), is the world's 12th-highest mountain and is located in Pakistan's Karakoram range. The range is 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 today Mr Purja was enlisted, along with Mr Grylls, by Spencer Matthews to help recover the body of his brother, Michael, the youngest Briton to summit Everest, who disappeared on the mountain in 1999. Despite searching with a team, they did not locate Michael. Mr Matthews, 37, shared a photo with the mountaineer on Instagram, describing the news as 'heartbreaking'. 'The mountains inspire us with their beauty, but they also demand immense respect,' he said. '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 are 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.' Born in a village in western Nepal, Mr Purja joined the Gurkhas in his teens, and in one interview described a pair of flip-flops as a luxury during his childhood. Mr Purja joined the British Army in 2003 and then went on to become a part of the Special Boat Service – the special forces unit of the Royal Navy – in 2009. He became the first Gurkha to join the elite unit and worked as a cold-weather warfare specialist. 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. In 2016, he broke mountaineering conventions to rescue a climber left in the “Everest death zone”, bringing her to safety alone. He later rose to prominence 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 release The 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.' Mr Purja, who lived with his wife and three-year-old daughter in Hampshire in southern England, said he was the first Gurkha to climb Everest while serving in the British military.