Fiennes' stepson launches £55k legal fund as family demands end to explorer's isolation

Key points

• Alexander Millington-Cotes, 31, has launched a crowdfunding campaign with a target of £55,000 to fund specialist legal advice to locate and safeguard Sir Ranulph Fiennes.
• Fiennes, 82, has not been seen publicly since October 2024, when he sent a prerecorded message to a gala evening at the Royal Geographical Society, stating he was 'not well enough' to attend in person.
• Fiennes' second wife, Louise, holds lasting power of attorney over his care and has reportedly placed him in a succession of care homes under a pseudonym.
• A Welsh care watchdog has concluded that Fiennes' living arrangements amount to a deprivation of his liberty, as his wife failed to ensure adequate legal safeguards were in place.
• Friends and family are calling for an urgent investigation by the Office of the Public Guardian, with some alleging that visitors were asked to sign non-disclosure agreements before being allowed to see Fiennes.

Background

Sir Ranulph Fiennes is widely considered the world's greatest living explorer, having been the first person to cross Antarctica on foot and reach both poles by surface travel. He has Parkinson's disease and has not been seen publicly since October 2024. His first wife, Ginny, died of cancer in 2004, and he married Louise in 2005.

How outlets are covering it

The Independent and The Guardian report on the crowdfunding campaign and the welfare concerns raised by Fiennes' family. The Spectator provides a broader analysis of the legal and ethical issues surrounding the deprivation of liberty of vulnerable individuals, noting that power of attorney may allow a spouse to choose where a person lives but not to deprive them of their liberty. The Telegraph's article was not accessible, but The Guardian and The Spectator both report that a Welsh care watchdog concluded Fiennes' living arrangements amounted to a deprivation of his liberty. The Guardian reports that Fiennes' stepson, Alexander Millington-Cotes, has a difficult relationship with his mother, Louise, and has been unable to locate his stepfather for two years. The Spectator notes that Fiennes' wife holds lasting power of attorney over him and is legally nominated to make decisions on his behalf, but that power of attorney may not allow her to deprive him of his liberty.

Why it matters

The case of Sir Ranulph Fiennes highlights the potential for abuse of power of attorney and the importance of safeguards to protect vulnerable individuals from unlawful deprivation of liberty. It also raises questions about the role of care homes and the need for transparency and accountability in the care of vulnerable individuals.

What to watch

The crowdfunding campaign will continue to raise funds for legal action to locate and safeguard Fiennes. The Office of the Public Guardian may launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Fiennes' care. The case may also lead to a broader review of the legal safeguards in place to protect vulnerable individuals from unlawful deprivation of liberty.