Sir Ranulph Fiennes’ stepson has launched a £55,000 crowdfunder to locate and safeguard the 82-year-old explorer. Family and friends, including veteran broadcaster John Simpson, have raised urgent concerns after care watchdogs concluded the retired explorer has been unlawfully deprived of his liberty in a succession of care homes.
Alexander Millington-Cotes, 31, started the fundraising campaign to pay for specialist legal representation and advice
aimed at revoking his estranged mother’s lasting power of attorney. The renowned expedition leader, who is 82 and has Parkinson’s disease, has not been seen in public for more than two years.
Care Home Placements Under Pseudonyms and Legal Safeguard Failures
Regulatory investigations have revealed troubling conditions surrounding the care arrangements established by the explorer’s second wife, Louise Millington-Cotes, 59. According to reporting detailed by the Telegraph, the former soldier had previously spent time in a Welsh care facility under a pseudonym. A local watchdog concluded that those living arrangements amounted to an unlawful deprivation of liberty because adequate legal safeguards were never put in place.
The Care Inspectorate of Wales confirmed that Sir Ranulph was under continuous supervision without an authorized deprivation of liberty order in place. A care home owner in Wales, where the explorer stayed for seven weeks, stated that Mrs. Millington-Cotes provided all medication directly and instructed staff on his day-to-day activities, while failing to register him with a local GP or secure a deprivation of liberty safeguards order.
Inside the Restrictions at London and Regional Facilities
Before his time in Wales, Sir Ranulph spent time in a London care facility where visitors were reportedly required to sign non-disclosure agreements arranged by his wife before gaining entry. Arabella McIntyre-Brown, the sister of the explorer’s late first wife Ginny, checked into the London home for a week just to speak with him. She told the Telegraph that Sir Ranulph expressed a wish to see his friends
during her efforts.
Mr. Millington-Cotes visited a subsequent care facility in Cheshire where his stepfather was believed to be housed, only to be informed by staff that the explorer was not present. His crowdfunder has established a target of £55,000 to cover court fees and the expense of determining [Fiennes’] exact location, to be shared with the relevant authorities
.
Public Appeals From Colleagues and Family Members
Prominent figures have added their voices to the demand for transparency regarding the explorer’s wellbeing. Veteran foreign correspondent John Simpson posted on social media that he was horrified to hear what’s happened to my good friend Ran Fiennes
and urged authorities to investigate.
Ran has spent his entire life pushing boundaries for others and representing the best of human endurance. Now, he needs us to fight for him.
Alexander Millington-Cotes, Stepson
Mr. Millington-Cotes noted that any funds exceeding the legal expenses target will be donated to Marie Curie and the British Heart Foundation, which are the favored charities of Sir Ranulph. Meanwhile, family members and supporters continue their push for the Office of the Public Guardian to intervene and evaluate whether Mrs. Millington-Cotes is properly executing her duties as legal guardian.
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