Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Britain’s greatest living explorer, was “unlawfully deprived of his liberty” when he was placed in a care home by his wife, a watchdog has concluded.
The 82-year-old national treasure has not been seen in public for almost two years, and is said to have moved through a number of care homes under a false name.
His friends said Sir Ranulph’s wife Louise Millington-Cotes refused to let them visit him or even tell them where he was.
A care home owner became concerned about the explorer’s wellbeing and contacted both the relevant authorities and police, according to The Telegraph.
He also wrote to the Office of the Public Guardian to raise concerns around strange medical arrangements made by Sir Ranulph’s 59-year-old second wife, and an incomplete “do not resuscitate” order she provided.
A care inspectorate concluded at the beginning of the year the explorer had been deprived of his liberty by his wife, who failed to ensure the appropriate legal protocols were in place.
Restrictions on Sir Ranulph included that visitors signed non-disclosure agreements before seeing him.
Mrs Millington-Cotes also insisted his appearance and name be concealed when in public.
Sir Ranulph has not been seen in public for two years
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She told the care home her husband was a “ex-SAS man whose life might be in danger from extremists”, claiming staff at a previous home attempted to kill him.
Measures to conceal the 82-year-old included him wearing a hat, sunglasses and gloves when taken on a walk by his carer.
Lasting power of attorney was granted to Mrs Millington-Cotes in 2024, and the owner of the care home told her to ensure a deprivation of liberty safeguard (DoLS) order was provided.
But she is thought to have repeatedly failed to correctly place the order, despite reminders from the care home’s owner.
Sir Ranulph and second wife, Louise Millington-Cotes, after his first attempted Everest climb in 2005
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The Care Inspectorate of Wales confirmed in an email in January to the care home owner: “Currently [Sir Ranulph] is being deprived of his liberty unlawfully as there is no authorised deprivation in place which reflects the current residence and restrictions in place.
“[Sir Ranulph] is under continuous supervision and control, is not free to leave and is not able to consent to care, treatment and accommodation.
“As such, the provider is required to make an urgent and standard application under the deprivation of liberty safeguards as soon as practicable.”
A DoLS order must be made by two professionals not involved in an individual’s care and the person in care must have a nominated representative.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes and his team before his attempted 1989 crossing of the Arctic Ocean to North Pole
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It is usually placed before someone is put in care and must be regularly reviewed.
Friends and relatives of Sir Ranulph are now believed to be planning a legal challenge to Mrs Mrs Millington-Cotes’ guardianship.
Care Inspectorate Wales, the independent regulator of social care, said: “Care Inspectorate Wales is committed to promoting the safety, wellbeing and rights of people who receive social care services across Wales.
“It would not be appropriate for us to comment on an individual’s personal circumstances or care arrangements.”
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