Former Gurkha's K2 mountain climb made him realise 'importance of his life'

A special report by ITV Meridian's Rachel Hepworth

A former Gurkha who battled 100 mile an hour winds and temperatures of -50 degrees to climb the world's second highest mountain has told ITV Meridian, the challenge made him realise the importance of his life.

Earlier this year Nirmal Purja from Hampshire, who worked as a special forces soldier took on the challenge of climbing K2. He led the team during the winter - a feat previously thought to be impossible.

The moment the group reached the summit was caught on video - the team even sang the Nepalese national anthem as they climbed.

Nirmal, known as Nims, led the only team to reach the summit in Winter, and holds the record for climbing all 14 of the world's tallest peaks, in just 6 months.

• Nirmal Purja

Nims has had an extraordinary life spending time in the Gurkhas and the Special Boat Service. He was born in the Dhaulagiri region of Nepal and raised in Chitwan, in the country’s flatlands.

He now spends his time mountaineering and leading expeditions all over the world. He's described reaching K2 in January was a patriotic moment.

Nims is now part of a new campaign The Big Mountain Clean Up which will try to remove abandoned camps and old climbing lines in the Himalayas- to make it safer for a new generation of climbers.

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