Inquest opened into the death of mountaineer Nirmal Purja

Nirmal Purja, 43, of Dodwell Lane, Bursledon, died in an avalanche on Broad Peak Mountain in Pakistan on July 30.

The body of Mr Purja was returned to the UK and a post-mortem conducted at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester by consultant pathologist Dr Hayley Burnley.

At a hearing in Winchester, senior coroner Chris Wilkinson said: "He was climbing a mountain on July 30 when an avalanche occurred.

"His body was recovered on August 5."

Dr Burnley reported that Mr Purja died of multiple injuries and avalanche-induced trauma.

Mr Purja, known as Nims or Nimsdai, was one of the world's most renowned high-altitude mountaineers and became internationally famous for a series of record-breaking achievements.

His defining achievement came in 2019, when he climbed all 14 of the world's mountains higher than 8,000 metres in just six months and six days.

His Project Possible expedition began with the summit of Annapurna on April 23 and ended on Shishapangma on October 29, covering the world's 14 highest peaks in 189 days. Guinness World Records recognised the feat as the fastest ascent of all 14 eight-thousanders.

The challenge became the subject of the Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible, bringing Purja's achievements to a worldwide audience.

He was also a former Gurkha soldier and served with the British military's Special Boat Service before leaving the armed forces to pursue mountaineering full-time.

Among his other major achievements was being part of the team that made the first winter ascent of K2 in January 2021.

Broad Peak, where he died, rises to more than 8,000 metres and is one of the world's highest mountains.

Purja's death came during an expedition on the mountain, with an avalanche striking the climbing team. The disaster claimed multiple lives and prompted a difficult recovery operation in the remote and dangerous terrain.

Mr Wilkinson adjourned the inquest until August 3 2027.