IN 1999, Michael Matthews made a bit to become the youngest Brit to climb the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest but tragedy followed when he reached the top.
This is how Michael Matthews tragically disappeared from the top of the world and now James and Spencer Matthews miss their dearest brother 23 years after.
Michael Matthews – born on March 4, 1977 – was the younger brother to former racing driver James Matthews and an older brother to Made In Chelsea’s Spencer Matthews.
James competed in the British Formula 3 Championship before joining the British Formula Renault Championship.
He is now a businessman married to Catherine, Princess of Wales’ sister, Pippa Middleton.
Meanwhile, his brother Spencer is known for his appearances on Made In Chelsea, Celebrity MasterChef and The Jump.
He is also a businessman who has written an autobiography.
Michael was an experienced mountain climber who had scaled the Swiss Alps, the Pyrenees and Kilimanjaro before he tackled Everest.
The trip cost him £22,000 through a company called Out There Trekking.
Michael led the climbing pack but the team said he struggled near the end and was the last to reach the peak.
They spent 20 minutes enjoying the view from the peak before descending using climbing ropes.
On the way down they were hit by a bad storm and 100mph winds and Michael got separated from the group.
On May 13, 1999, nowhere to be found, Michael Matthews was confirmed dead on Mount Everest.
He was lost in heavy snow and fierce gales on the mountain’s infamous Death Zone, more than 8,000 metres high.
Michael was the 162nd person to die on Everest and his body has never been found.
Pippa Middleton’s husband James, 42, was close to tragic Michael and was only 18 months older.
Pippa and James are now committed to doing good acts around the world for the Michael Matthews Foundation, which builds schools in poverty-stricken regions.
They have also named their first son after James’ fallen brother.
Arthur Michael William Matthews was born at the Lindo Wing in St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, on October 16 2018.
Spencer wrote about the family tragedy in his autobiography Confessions of a Chelsea Boy.
He said: “His loss was devastating for the family and over time this became worse because the circumstances surrounding Michael’s death have never been fully explained.
“James took the news badly.
“With just a year and a half between them, he and Mike were the closest of friends. The loss was heartbreaking for James.”
The Matthews’ millionaire dad David has always blamed mountain guides’ negligence for his death and has launched multiple legal battles to try and prove it.
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