Featured Image Credit: Gary Mitchell,GMP Media/Alamy Stock Photo/Michael Matthews Foundation
Topics: UK News, Bear Grylls
Dominic Smithers
Topics: UK News, Bear Grylls
Spencer Matthews is climbing Mount Everest in the hope of finding his brother's body.
Michael Matthews was just 22 when he reached the top of the mountain in 1999, becoming the youngest British person to ever do so.
Tragically, Michael died during his descent and his body was never recovered.
However, in a new documentary, his brother and Made in Chelsea star Spencer will attempt to retrace Michael's footsteps and try to find his body.
Advert
Speaking about Finding Michael, which has been made with Disney+, the 34-year-old said: "It was important for me to get my head around the fact I might come face to face with my brother’s frozen body.
"I knew it was going to be a gut-wrenching and emotional journey."
Spencer was just 10 years old at the time of Michael's passing.
He recently took to Instagram to reflect on the upcoming documentary: "During recent years the question of whether or not Mike could be found and brought home to our family was often on my mind. I became uncomfortable with the thought of him being left up there, possibly in plain sight.
"[...] Over the last eighteen months or so we’ve been making a documentary film about this once in a lifetime journey to the highest point on earth.
"I am now proud to announce, together with @DisneyPlusUK that early next year we will bring you Finding Michael, a strong and powerful story of brotherly love.
"This has been the most meaningful and humbling experience of my own life and it is hoped the film will deliver my brave brother the decent legacy that he earned when so young. "
Bear Grylls recently revealed that he was part of the expedition to try and recover Michael's body.
As well as being close friends with James Matthews - Spencer and Michael's brother and Pippa Middleton's husband - Grylls had previously held the title of the youngest Brit to climb Everest, before Michael beat his record.
During a talk at the Oxford Union Society, Grylls explained he took to Mount Everest alongside a group to try and find 'the body of the brother of a good friend'.
Grylls reflected: "It is the reality of high-altitude mountaineering, as people pay the ultimate price up there."
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677