Update on Sir Ranulph Fiennes after being 'kept in care homes illegally under fake names by wife'

Members of Sir Ranulph Fiennes' family have spoken out after the news broke that he is being 'unlawfully deprived of his liberty’.

The legendary explorer, who remains the only person in history to reach both the North and South Pole by surface means only, had seemingly taken a step back from public life, with his last public appearance coming all the way back in October 2024.

However, it has now emerged that the 82-year-old has allegedly been placed into a succession of care homes by his second wife Louise Millington-Cotes , all under fake names, and she is also reportedly preventing his other family and friends from seeing him, with King Charles also alerted to his disappearance earlier this year.

His close family have now responded to care watchdog's assessment of the endurance record holder, who has Parkinson's, while also calling for a major investigation into his welfare.

Arabella McIntyre-Brown, the sister of Sir Ranulph’s first wife, Ginny, who passed away in 2004, told The Daily Telegraph: “We – Ran’s family and close friends – have been very concerned for his safety and mental wellbeing [and the fact he has] been isolated for so long.

“Reports of his physical wellbeing are also very worrying. He’s a tough fellow, but he’s only human. The sooner the OPG moves, the better.”

Fiennes has been called the 'world's bravest man' (David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage)

Alexander Millington-Cotes, Sir Ranulph’s stepson, who is estranged from his mother, added: “Of course, the OPG should investigate … We would love them to investigate.

“I spoke to them the other day, and also called up the safeguarding team and gave them more information … I’ve heard nothing back so far.”

Millington-Cotes, with whom Sir Ranulph shares a 20-year-old daughter, is also reported to have provided a do not resuscitate document, which members of his family have also questioned.

Sir Ranulph was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019 and kept it secret at first before opening up about his health struggles, particularly when he filmed a National Geographic series with his cousin Joseph Fiennes.

At the time, the explorer said: " "I think the Parkinson stuff is very different with different sufferers from it.

"I find you get sudden spells of dizziness, and when they are happening, you need to be careful until the dizziness goes otherwise, you're going to go flat, and the injury that you get from falling over because of it is going to be worse than Parkinson's."

He was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2019 (Hugh R Hastings/Getty Images)

"Looking at what gives me the most hope to try and cure myself is cold swimming. And I intend to do that. Unfortunately, you have to like getting into cold water - I spent my life trying to avoid getting cold."

There is now huge concern for Sir Ranulph's welfare amid accusations that his wife has disregarded her duties as his legal guardian and the extreme conditions she has placed upon him to prevent others getting close to him.

Veteran BBC correspondent John Simpson, a close friend of the explorer, also called for more information about the history-maker to be released.

In a post on X he wrote: “Horrified to hear what’s happened to my good friend Ran Fiennes.

“I’d like to tell the relevant authorities everything I know about the way he’s been treated. He’s the world’s bravest man, and he’s vulnerable. We must know what’s happening to him.”