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| Nirmal Purja: Ex-soldier climbs 14 highest mountains in seven months | Nirmal Purja: Ex-soldier climbs 14 highest mountains in seven months |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A Nepali mountaineer and former British Marine has climbed the world's tallest 14 peaks in seven months - beating an earlier record of almost eight years. | A Nepali mountaineer and former British Marine has climbed the world's tallest 14 peaks in seven months - beating an earlier record of almost eight years. |
| Nirmal Purja reached the top of his 14th mountain, Shishapangma in China, on Tuesday morning. | Nirmal Purja reached the top of his 14th mountain, Shishapangma in China, on Tuesday morning. |
| Purja, 36, joined the British Army in 2003 and became a Royal Marine in 2009. | Purja, 36, joined the British Army in 2003 and became a Royal Marine in 2009. |
| His climbing career began when he walked to Everest base camp in 2012 and, instead of returning as planned, decided to climb the entire mountain. | His climbing career began when he walked to Everest base camp in 2012 and, instead of returning as planned, decided to climb the entire mountain. |
| He was already the holder of numerous records - including the fastest "double-header" of two mountains higher than 8,000 metres - and was awarded the MBE, a civilian honour, by the Queen in 2018. | He was already the holder of numerous records - including the fastest "double-header" of two mountains higher than 8,000 metres - and was awarded the MBE, a civilian honour, by the Queen in 2018. |
| Nepalese soldiers have served in the British Army - specifically the Brigade of Gurkhas - for more than 200 years. | Nepalese soldiers have served in the British Army - specifically the Brigade of Gurkhas - for more than 200 years. |
| There are 14 mountains in the world higher than 8,000m, and the previous record for climbing them all was almost eight years, achieved by Polish climber Jerzy Kukucza in 1987. | There are 14 mountains in the world higher than 8,000m, and the previous record for climbing them all was almost eight years, achieved by Polish climber Jerzy Kukucza in 1987. |
| Purja began his campaign in Nepal in April, and climbed Mount Everest in May. There, his picture of the queue at the top of the summit gained worldwide attention. | Purja began his campaign in Nepal in April, and climbed Mount Everest in May. There, his picture of the queue at the top of the summit gained worldwide attention. |
| During his climbs, he rescued four other climbers - three of which he called "suicide missions" - and has, in his own words, "bled from every angle". | During his climbs, he rescued four other climbers - three of which he called "suicide missions" - and has, in his own words, "bled from every angle". |
| But it wasn't non-stop work. In August, he told the BBC's Colin Murray he climbed Everest, Lhotse and Makalu in five days, but it could have been three - had he not stopped for two nights "to have a drink". | But it wasn't non-stop work. In August, he told the BBC's Colin Murray he climbed Everest, Lhotse and Makalu in five days, but it could have been three - had he not stopped for two nights "to have a drink". |
| In September, his challenge was held up while he waited for permission to climb the final mountain, Shishapangma, in the Tibetan autonomous region of China. | In September, his challenge was held up while he waited for permission to climb the final mountain, Shishapangma, in the Tibetan autonomous region of China. |
| His permit was granted on 15 October after the Nepali government approached the Chinese government on his behalf. | |
| In order, the 14 mountains were: | In order, the 14 mountains were: |