Who is Lotta Hintsa? Revisiting the former Miss Finland's allegations against Nirmal Purja following his death at 43

Lotta Hintsa is a Finnish professional mountaineer, model, and former beauty pageant contestant who rose to fame internationally in 2024 after having accused the renowned mountain climber Nirmal Purja of sexual assault.

Hintsa, who was crowned Miss Finland in 2013, has built a career in endurance sports and high-altitude mountaineering, and has participated in major expeditions around the world.

In 2020, she attempted a winter ascent on Broad Peak, where she was famously rescued later on. Hintsa addressed this on her Instagram at the time.

"Expedition over. S*** happens, please no apologies or pity, I've already got my sights on the next project. Health wise, I'm quite ok, and even though the press considers me 'rescued,' I was perfectly capable and willing to walk out on my own feet at the end of the expedition. The Pakistan Military helicopter pilots who were there to evacuate my climbing partner Don were gracious enough to invite me to fly out with them."

In December 2023, Lotta Hintsa published her memoir The Mountains of My Life 2, where she talked about her experience with a famous male climber. However, Hintsa at that point didn't identify the person and didn't elaborate on the abuse.

However, in a tell-all New York Times article published in May 2024, the beauty queen identified the famous mountaineer as Nirmal Purja.

In Lotta Hintsa's conversation with the outlet, she elaborated on the disturbing aspects of the renowned male climber who, she said, sexually assaulted her in a hotel suite in Kathmandu, Nepal, in March 2023.

The former Sports Illustrated model said that he led her to the bedroom, pulled off her shirt, trekking shorts, and underwear, and tried to remove her bra.

"I can't get through to him. He’s in this extremely aroused state where a 'No' means nothing."

She added that she repeatedly told him no, to no avail. Despite her repeated refusal, Hintsa said that he ended up m*******ing next to her.

Family doctor accused Nirmal Purja of sexual misconduct

Apart from that, there were also charges leveled by Dr. April Leonardo, an American physician who alleged that Nirmal Purja committed sexual harassment against her during an expedition to K2 in 2022.

The family doctor from California, who reportedly paid $55,000 to be part of the expedition, recalled that she was searching for a trash bag when Nirmal Purja reportedly brought her to a storeroom and kissed her. She claimed that he also told her:

"I will have you."

Dr. Leonardo shared with the New York Times:

"I just feel like I need to avoid him and keep anything from happening, but I'm afraid to do or say anything about it."

Purja, however, denied all allegations through his legal representatives. His attorney, Philip M. Kelly, said in an official statement that the mountaineer:

"unequivocally denies the allegations of wrongdoing. These allegations are false and defamatory."

No criminal conviction related to the allegations was reported.

Nirmal Purja, one of the world's most accomplished high-altitude climbers, rose to global fame through the Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible, which chronicled his record-setting ascent of all 14 mountains above 8,000 meters. He also co-founded the expedition company Elite Exped.

Purja died tragically in 2026 when he was just 43 years old in an avalanche at Broad Peak.

His death has once again brought focus on his mountaineering successes and also the accusations surrounding him, with Hintsa having standing firmly behind her claims.

Trending

According to her, the alleged encounter had left her scarred.

"It has made me realize that it's not only the rock fall or the avalanches that are dangerous for a female climber."

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback