TV adventurer Bear Grylls has led a secret expedition to Mount Everest aiming to get better the physique of Pippa Middleton’s brother-in-law, who died in a mountaineering accident hours after changing into the youngest Briton to beat world’s highest peak.
The Chief Scout, who counts the Princess of Wales amongst his mates, led an expedition to Mount Everest earlier this yr to attempt to get better the physique of Michael Matthews.
Mr Matthews died aged 22 in a mountaineering accident in 1999 after following the instance of his buddy Mr Grylls, who had reached the summit of Everest the earlier yr on the age of 23.
He was the brother of Pippa Middleton’s husband, the racing driver turned hedge fund supervisor James Matthews, 47.
He and his brother, the Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews, are mates of Mr Grylls, 48, the son of late Tory MP Sir Michael Grylls.
Michael Matthews, 22, (left), with buddy Jamie Everett in entrance of the summit of Everest in 1999
Mr Matthews on the mountain in 1999, when he broke Mr Grylls’ document and have become the youngest Briton to climb the world’s highest peak
Mr Grylls (left), age 23, with Neil Laughton on the summit of Mount Everest in 1998
The Chief Scout, who counts the Princess of Wales amongst his mates, led an expedition to Mount Everest earlier this yr to attempt to get better the physique of Mr Matthews
‘We truly had an expedition on Everest to attempt to get better the physique of the brother of buddy, who climbed it the yr after I used to be there however was by no means discovered,’ Mr Grylls mentioned.
‘We actually tried. We had the most effective staff on the planet.’
The Matthews household are determined to search out his physique, and a supply believes a mountain information is aware of the place it is perhaps.
Talking on the Oxford Union, the Outdated Etonian mentioned: ‘We had a staff of, like, ten Nepalese guys and another unbelievable Western climbers.’
Mr Grylls, who has attracted huge names together with former US President Barack Obama and Hollywood stars Kate Winslet and Ben Stiller to look on his present, Operating Wild With Bear Grylls, added: ‘The story has not come out but, so I’m not going to speak an excessive amount of about it, however it was a extremely particular second for [Michael’s] household.
The Chief Scout led an expedition to Mount Everest earlier this yr to attempt to get better the physique of Mr Matthews
Mr Grylls on Mount Everest in 1998, when he was a record-setting 23-years-old. He mentioned Mr Matthews’ demise reveals ‘the fact of high-altitude mountaineering’
‘It’s the actuality of high-altitude mountaineering, as folks pay the last word worth up there.’
In March this yr, Spencer Matthews was reportedly within the early phases of creating a documentary about his late brother’s final days.
The CleanCo founder, 33, was mentioned to be ‘vastly passionate’ about embarking on the journey, which might retrace the steps of his sibling.
He was mentioned to have the backing of his dad and mom and his brother James, who’s married to Miss Middleton, to create the ’emotional’ challenge, which can see Spencer go to his brother’s closing resting place.
The Sun reported that Spencer was intent on bringing his brother’s physique house.
A supply mentioned on the time: ‘Spencer’s documentary about Michael and his closing days is on the very early phases and Disney+ have proven an curiosity.
‘Although the Matthews household had been by no means in a position to get better Michael’s physique, there’s a information who believes they know his closing resting place.
‘It’s a vastly emotional challenge and will likely be a really upsetting journey for a lot of causes, however Spencer is vastly keen about embarking on it if he could make it work.’
Skilled mountaineer Mr Matthews, who had beforehand conquered Kilimanjaro, died in 1999 on a quest through which he grew to become the youngest Brit to beat Everest. He was the 162nd particular person to die on Everest.
Though he reached the summit of the world’s highest mountain, he grew to become separated from his group on the route down.
Mr Matthews’ physique has by no means been recovered and his household have by no means been in a position to totally perceive what occurred to him.
In March Spencer Matthews, pictured, was reportedly within the early phases of creating a documentary about his late brother’s final days earlier than he died descending Mount Everest
Spencer, youngest backside, described his brother Michael, left subsequent to sibling James, as an ‘unbelievable power of nature’
Mr Matthews’ brother James is married to Pippa Middleton, the youthful sister of the Princess of Wales (pictured with Michael, Carole and James Middleton) in 2019
Spencer Matthews is married to mannequin and TV star Vogue Williams
Pippa Middleton named her son Arthur Michael William Matthews in tribute to her father and her husband’s youthful brother who died whereas climbing Everest
In 2018, Pippa Middleton and husband James Matthews paid tribute to the late Michael Matthews after they named their son.
The couple, who named their son Arthur, gave their child boy the center names Michael and William.
Their child boy weighing 8lb and 9oz was born on the non-public Lindo Wing, at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, in October 2018.
Pippa Middleton and husband James Matthews gave their son Arthur the center names Michael and William
The title Michael is a tribute to Pippa’s father and her husband’s youthful brother who died whereas climbing Mount Everest in 1999.
Michael Matthews went lacking on the mountain’s notorious Demise Zone whereas he was making an attempt to develop into the youngest Briton to climb the world’s highest peak.
Following his tragic demise brother James Matthews accompanied by spouse Pippa have develop into dedicated to fundraising for poverty-stricken areas in Africa and Asia by way of the Michael Matthews Basis.
The start of the couple’s child got here simply hours after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle introduced they had been anticipating a baby.
He was an achieved climber who had scaled the Pyrenees, the Swiss Alps and Kilimanjaro earlier than he went on to try his fateful Everest trek, which value round £22,000, utilizing a climbing firm.
After main the group, the remainder of the climbing pack mentioned he started to battle close to the top, and on their descent, 100mph winds hit, resulting in Michael’s separation from the group.
David Matthews, the millionaire patriarch of the household, has at all times claimed that the negligence of the mountain guides was in charge for his demise.
He introduced a non-public case in opposition to three males working for the agency amid claims the protection briefings had been insufficient, his oxygen provide was defective and the guides did not hold Michael of their sights throughout the climb.
The case was dismissed because the choose insisted there was no proof of negligence.
Spencer and his household have since raised tons of of hundreds of kilos for The Michael Matthews Basis, created in his brother’s reminiscence to assist schooling initiatives in Africa and Asia.
In Spencer’s 2013 ebook Confessions of a Chelsea Boy: The Autobiography, he mentioned the devastating lack of his sibling.
Talking in regards to the household, together with his different brother James, he mentioned: ‘His loss was devastating for the household and over time this grew to become worse as a result of the circumstances surrounding Michael’s demise have by no means been totally defined.
‘James took the information badly. With only a yr and a half between them, he and Mike had been the closest of mates. The loss was heartbreaking for James.’
Of the unanswered questions surrounding the demise, Spencer went on: ‘Now we have not been in a position to say goodbye in particular person. Now we have nowhere to go to sit down with him.
‘He lives on with us in our minds solely. On Mike’s birthday James and I ship mum and pop pink roses for the age he would have been. I suppose our household’s approach of coping with shedding Mike is to imagine that he goes on with us.’
In a 2001 Guardian article on the tragedy, Spencer and Michael’s father David defined how he initially educated along with his son and his colleague Jamie Everett for the Everest expedition.
David was pressured to drop out of the climb following a coaching climb up Aconcagua, throughout which he found that the surgical procedure he had had on his carotid artery prevented him from climbing nicely at altitude.
In 2016, Pippa Middleton climbed to the summit of the Matterhorn, having conquered its 14,691ft peak on July 29.
The then 32-year-old made the climb in honour of Michael.
Pippa was supported by her brother James Middleton on the climb, with the pair elevating cash for The Michael Matthews Basis.
Simply hours after her descent, Pippa spoke movingly about what had impressed her – and the way she was longing to share her journey along with her then fiance.
She instructed The Mail on Sunday on the time: ‘It was humbling to have been in a position to climb one of many world’s most stunning mountains and lift cash for a charity created in reminiscence of a unprecedented younger man who misplaced his life on one other peak.
‘Though I’ve raised cash up to now for the Michael Matthews Basis, it has now develop into much more necessary to me and my household.
‘Though neither I nor my brother ever met Michael, we each share his spirit and keenness for the mountains. We made this climb figuring out he would have been there nudging us on, and we’re honoured to be supporting his reminiscence.’
She added: ‘It might have been good if my fiance James had been right here to share the expertise, one thing I do know he would have liked to have completed. Mountaineering, although, has disturbing recollections and understandably James stored his toes firmly on the bottom, whereas giving us his full assist.’
The Princess of Wales’ sister has already conquered Mont Blanc, swum the Bosphorus in Istanbul and cycled throughout America.
However the challenges of the jagged pyramid of the Matterhorn, which rears up above the Swiss ski resort of Zermatt, are larger than something she has ever confronted.
Annually, the mountain claims three or 4 lives and was one of many final in Europe to be conquered.
It was a ardour for the world’s peaks that beckoned Michael from a promising Metropolis job to Everest.
However whereas he was nonetheless within the so-called ‘Demise Zone’ – all the things from round 26,000ft above sea degree, the place the air is just too skinny to maintain human life – he was torn from his path and his information by a snowstorm.
The muse based in his title provides kids in among the world’s remotest locations an schooling. It operates in international locations together with Burma, Thailand, Nepal and Tanzania, constructing colleges which double as well being centres and neighborhood hubs.
A lot of the fundraising has been completed by James Matthews by way of sports activities occasions.
EXCLUSIVE: ‘I simply assumed he’d come again’: Spencer Matthews admits he ‘by no means actually processed’ late brother Michael’s demise till ‘simply now’ – following his passing aged 22 whereas climbing Mount Everest
ByCallum Wells For Mailonline
He just lately filmed a documentary about his late brother Michael’s final days earlier than he died descending Mount Everest.
Now Spencer Matthews has revealed he ‘by no means actually processed’ his demise till ‘simply now’, including that he assumed the ‘superhero’ would return.
The previous Made In Chelsea star, 34, was ten-years-old when Michael tragically died aged 22 – after changing into the youngest Brit to achieve the height of Everest in 1999.
EXCLUSIVE: ‘I simply assumed he’d come again’: Spencer Matthews has admitted he ‘by no means actually processed’ his late brother Michael’s demise till ‘simply now’ – following his passing aged 22 whereas climbing Mount Everest
Talking on his new podcast, Big Fish, launched on Wednesday, he instructed Ant Middleton: ‘I by no means actually processed Mike’s demise till simply now. He died in 1999, you recognize, 23 years in the past. And he was 22, the youngest Brit to achieve the summit. And I used to be ten.
‘So, to me, shedding him was not one thing I totally understood. Mike was my superhero determine in my life. I simply assumed he’d come again, I did not imagine that he was useless for a time period.
‘And you recognize, as time handed, I understood I might by no means see him once more. I’ve at all times had this burning want to search out him. And clearly I understood by way of my teenage years how difficult that might be.
‘I am not a very externally emotional particular person. I am unable to actually keep in mind the final time I cried. I am a really black and white character who simply offers with points after I face them.
‘I grew to become very shut with folks on that mountain and so they got here house, you recognize, one of many lads misplaced 20 kilos as a result of he was there the entire time, and he was completely different, you recognize, he got here again and was affected by it.’
Spencer – who has kids Theodore, 4, Gigi, two, and Otto, six months, along with his spouse Vogue Williams – continued: ‘Otto was 5 days previous after I left for Everest for 5 weeks [for filming]. I had nothing however assist from Vogue. Vogue was so on board with it and so proud that we had been doing it.
‘And he or she feels actually near Michael having by no means met him, in fact, and was deeply emotionally touched by the entire thing.’
Candid: Talking on his new podcast, Huge Fish , launched on Wednesday, Spencer Matthews instructed Ant Middleton (proper): ‘I by no means actually processed Mike’s demise till simply now’
Opening up: Spencer added, ‘And you recognize, as time handed, I understood I might by no means see him once more. I’ve at all times had this burning want to search out him’
Earlier this yr, it was reported Spencer was within the early phases of creating a documentary about his late brother Michael’s final days.
Spencer allegedly had the backing of his dad and mom and his brother James, 34, who’s married to Pippa Middleton, to create the ’emotional’ challenge, which can see Spencer go to his closing resting place.
In keeping with The Sun, Spencer was intent on bringing his brother’s physique house, and a supply mentioned: ‘Spencer’s documentary about Michael and his closing days is on the very early phases and Disney+ have proven an curiosity.
Venture: Earlier this yr, it was reported Spencer, pictured, was within the early phases of creating a documentary about his late brother Michael’s final days
Heartbroken: Talking about his loss, Spencer beforehand mentioned: ‘His loss was devastating for the household and over time this grew to become worse’ (Michael Matthews, left, with buddy Jamie Everett in entrance of the summit of Everest)
‘Although the Matthews household had been by no means in a position to get better Michael’s physique, there’s a information who believes they know his closing resting place.
‘It’s a vastly emotional challenge and will likely be a really upsetting journey for a lot of causes, however Spencer is vastly keen about embarking on it if he could make it work.’
Skilled mountaineer Michael, who had beforehand conquered Kilimanjaro, died in 1999 on a quest that noticed him develop into the youngest Brit to beat Everest. He was the 162nd particular person to die on Everest.
Though Michael reached the summit of the world’s highest mountain, he grew to become separated from his group throughout the route down the mountain.
Michael’s physique has by no means been recovered and the Matthews’ household have by no means been in a position to totally perceive what occurred to him.
Michael was an achieved climber who had scaled the Pyrenees, the Swiss Alps and Kilimanjaro earlier than he went on to try his fateful Everest trek, which value round £22,000, utilizing a climbing firm.
After main the group, the remainder of the climbing pack claimed he started to battle close to the top and on their descent, a storm with 100mph winds hit resulting in Michael’s separation from the group.
David Matthews, the millionaire patriarch of the household, has at all times vowed the negligence of the mountain guides was in charge for his demise.
He introduced a non-public case in opposition to three males working for the agency amid claims the protection briefings had been insufficient, his oxygen provide was defective and the guides did not hold Michael of their sights throughout the climb.
The case was dismissed because the choose insisted there was no proof of negligence.
Spencer and his household have since raised tons of of hundreds of kilos for The Michael Matthews Basis, created in Michael’s reminiscence to assist schooling initiatives in Africa and Asia.
Spencer most just lately entered the Ice Extremely, which is a 230km autonomous foot race (carrying all meals and gear) by way of the mountains of Arctic Sweden.
Newest problem: Spencer most just lately entered the Ice Extremely, which is a 230km autonomous foot race (carrying all meals and gear) by way of the mountains of Arctic Sweden
Replace: The media character was pressured to tug out of the race attributable to contracting Covid, nonetheless he was in tenth place on the time of withdrawal
The media character was pressured to tug out of the race attributable to contracting Covid, nonetheless he was in tenth place when he withdrew.
In October he accomplished the gruelling six-day Marathon Des Sables in Morocco.
The ex Made In Chelsea star ran the ultramarathon throughout the Sahara Desert in reminiscence of his late brother alongside his enterprise accomplice David Folkman,.
The ultra-fit pair had been elevating cash for The Michael Matthews Basis.
Spencer described his brother as an ‘unbelievable power of nature’ as he took to Instagram on the time to inform his followers about his upcoming journey.
He wrote: ‘Subsequent week, along with @cleanco MD David Folkman, I’ll compete within the @marathondessables – a gruelling 251km self-sustained ultramarathon throughout the Sahara Desert.
Race: Spencer most just lately accomplished the gruelling six-day Marathon Des Sables in Morocco
Companions in crime: The entrepreneur ran the 251 km race alongside his enterprise accomplice David Folkman, 45
‘In what’s dubbed because the ‘hardest footrace on earth’, we’re elevating funds for @michaelmatthewsfoundation – the charity based in reminiscence of my late brother who died while descending Mount Everest in 1999. On the time, he was the youngest Brit to have reached the summit at simply 22 years previous.
‘My brother was an unbelievable power of nature and I now really feel like I am in the most effective place to do that problem justice; while supporting an unbelievable charity that builds colleges and offers secure lodging for ladies in distant elements of Africa and Asia.
‘Please go to the GoFundMe hyperlink in my bio, if you’ll be able to assist.’
Difficult: ‘In what’s dubbed because the hardest footrace on earth, we’re elevating funds for @michaelmatthewsfoundation’, Spencer wrote
Adventurer: Michael Matthews was an achieved climber who had scaled the Pyrenees, the Swiss Alps and Kilimanjaro earlier than he went on to try his fateful Everest trek
In Spencer’s 2013 ebook Confessions of a Chelsea Boy: The Autobiography, he mentioned the devastating lack of his sibling.
Of the unanswered questions surrounding the demise, Spencer went on: ‘Now we have not been in a position to say goodbye in particular person. Now we have nowhere to go to sit down with him.
‘He lives on with us in our minds solely. On Mike’s birthday James and I ship mum and pop pink roses for the age he would have been. I suppose our household’s approach of coping with shedding Mike is to imagine that he goes on with us.’