Some of Britain’s most prominent explorers are calling for a police investigation into the mystery surrounding Sir Ranulph Fiennes’s disappearance, after his family claimed their pleas for help had been ignored. Their message to him was clear: “We are coming!”
The 82-year-old adventurer, who has Parkinson’s disease and has not been seen in public for more than two years, has reportedly been placed under a false name and moved between several care homes by his second wife.
His stepson, Alexander Millington-Cotes, said he had made no progress in persuading two police forces to investigate. Fellow adventurers, including Bear Grylls and Ben Fogle, have now joined calls for authorities to act.
One of the forces has declined to say whether it intends to investigate, while the other has yet to make a public response.
Support for the family has continued to grow, with more than £15,000 raised for a crowdfunded legal campaign launched by Mr Millington-Cotes.
Often hailed as the world’s greatest living explorer, Sir Ranulph has completed extraordinary feats, including running seven marathons across seven continents in seven days. He also climbed Everest at the age of 65, four years after suffering a heart attack.
However, after he married his second wife, Louise Millington-Cotes, in 2005, Mr Millington-Cotes says her behaviour became increasingly “dominating”. Louise, who is 23 years younger than Sir Ranulph, married him just over a year after the death of his first wife. Her stepson describes himself as “estranged” from his mother.
Friends and a business associate gave The Mail on Sunday a similar account. One said Sir Ranulph had complained that he was “only ever being allowed 24 hours at a time away from her”.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes and his second wife Louise Millington-Cotes after returning to Britain following an unsuccessful attempt to climb Everest
Sir Ranulph pictured with television adventurer Ben Fogle, who has described the “very troubling” reports of his friend being kept “isolated” and urged police to investigate
Friends and relatives say Louise was reportedly granted lasting power of attorney over Sir Ranulph in 2024. They were initially allowed to visit the couple at a London care home, but only after signing a non-disclosure agreement.
Since then, however, Sir Ranulph has reportedly been moved between a series of care homes under a false name. The Care Inspectorate concluded that he had been unlawfully deprived of his liberty.
For months, Mr Millington-Cotes has been trying to locate him and establish whether he is safe and receiving proper care.
He has approached police in Cheshire, where one of the care homes is located, as well as West Mercia Police, the force covering the area where the couple previously lived. His efforts have so far produced no result.
“I’m trying to establish from the police what they’re doing… I’ve tried to get in touch but no luck so far,” he told the Sunday Telegraph.
Backing his appeal, fellow explorer Bear Grylls said: “We have been desperately trying to connect with Ran for a year now to no avail.
“But truth always wins out.
“These reports of his isolation from his loved ones and treatment in care homes are so deeply disturbing.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes during the first unsupported crossing of Antarctica in 1992
“It’s past time for the Office for the Public Guardian and the police to investigate urgently. We owe it to him.”
‘Ran we are coming!’
Ben Fogle, who like Sir Ranulph has walked to the South Pole and summited Everest, has also called on the police to investigate.
‘That such a great man, hero of mine and a national treasure, should be treated in this way, isolated and kept away from family and friends, is very troubling,’ he said on social media.
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail single-handed and non-stop around the world, said: ‘The recent news that he is being shuffled from home to home and not allowed to see his friends is the deprivation of a basic human right.’
Other celebrity friends include Gardeners’ World host Monty Don, who said Sir Ranulph should be ‘enjoying the admiration and respect of the whole country after such a remarkable life and not kept hidden away from family and friends’.
Meanwhile veteran BBC journalist John Simpson said: ‘He’s the world’s bravest man, and he’s vulnerable. We must know what’s happening to him.’
And shadow health and care secretary Damian Hinds has called for ‘any potential failings’ at the care watchdog the Office Of The Public Guardian to be ‘looked into’.
Mr Millington-Cotes, 31, is now seeking to raise £55,000 to fund legal action if that becomes necessary.
‘I want to ensure his complete free will, the ability to walk outside, see whoever he wants,’ he told The Mail on Sunday.
Cheshire Police declined to comment, while West Mercia Police have yet to comment.
Mrs Millington-Cotes, 59, has so far not responded to requests for comment.
Mr Millington-Cotes’s GoFundMe page can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/helpingranfiennes