Pippa's Fiance James Matthews Carries a Heartbreaking Story About His Brother

Hedge fund manager James Matthews looks like he has it all - millions of dollars in the bank and Pippa Middleton as his bride-to-be.

But the dashing 40-year-old is no stranger to tragedy and loss, it has emerged in the British press.

Matthews' younger brother Michael disappeared on Mt Everest in 1999 after becoming the youngest Brit to conquer the world's highest mountain at the age of 22.

Michael is believed to have perished in the "death zone", a treacherous region above 8000m, as he fought his way down through blizzard-like conditions, theMirror reported.

He was the 162nd person to die on the world's highest mountain. His body has never been found.

The brothers' self-made millionaire father, David, battled for years to prove that Michael's death was caused by the negligence of his mountain guides.

Michael Matthews (left), with friend James Everet, died on Mt Everest, aged 22, in 1999. His body was never found.

The family's struggle to come to terms with the tragedy and their quest for "justice" was detailed by the youngest Matthews brother, Spencer, in his 2014 autobiography Confessions of a Chelsea Boy.

Read more about Spencer's autobiography at nzherald.co.nz