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A police chief today said she was ‘satisfied’ Sir Ranulph Fiennes was receiving ‘suitable care’ and living in an ‘appropriate setting’ – despite claims officers were refusing to investigate the adventurer’s mystery disappearance.
In a statement, Detective Chief Superintendent Claire Jesson, of Cheshire police, said the force was aware of friends and relatives’ fears for the 82-year-old explorer but that ‘no immediate safeguarding concerns’ had been identified regarding his care.
uncertain
concerns → see → care
Sir Ranulph, who has Parkinson’s and has not been seen publicly for more than two years, has reportedly been given a false name by his 'controlling' second wife and moved between a series of care homes.
uncertain
who → have → homes
On Sunday his stepson, Alexander Millington-Cotes, said he had had ‘no luck’ in persuading two police forces to investigate Sir Ranulph’s whereabouts, as it emerged that King Charles had also been blocked from checking on his wellbeing.
asserted
Charles → say → wellbeing
The King's equerry is believed to have contacted an individual who had written a letter asking how the monarch could get in touch with Sir Ranulph and was given a phone number for his wife and legal guardian, Louise Millington-Cotes.
But she was allegedly angry the Palace had been given her details and threatened the intermediary with a solicitor and the police, The Telegraph reported.
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Telegraph → believe → solicitor
Other supporters, including fellow adventurers Bear Grylls and Ben Fogle, have also backed calls for help to locate missing Sir Ranulph.
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supporters → include → Ranulph
Ranulph Fiennes is pictured exploring in Antarctica in 1996.
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Fiennes → picture → 1996
His stepson is determined to find the 82-year-old
Sir Ranulph Fiennes with his stepson Alex Millington at the leaning tower of Pisa in Italy in June 2018
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stepson → find → June
Mr Millington-Cotes said he had been trying for months to find his step-father and had contacted police in Cheshire – location of one of the homes where Sir Ranulph has been staying – as well as the West Mercia force, where the couple previously lived, but without success.
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couple → say → success
Today, however, Ms Jesson insisted officers had investigated and found no immediate risk to Sir Ranulph's wellbeing.
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officers → insist → wellbeing
‘Police and partner agencies are aware of the concerns raised and are satisfied that Sir Ranulph Fiennes is living in an appropriate setting with suitable care and professional oversight,’ the senior officer said.
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officer → raise → care
‘No immediate safeguarding concerns have been identified at this time.
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concerns → identify → time
‘Any new information received will be assessed and considered through the appropriate multi-agency arrangements.
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information → receive → arrangements
‘As this is a matter involving an individual's care and welfare, it would not be appropriate to comment further on personal circumstances.
‘
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it → involve → circumstances
We would ask that privacy is respected and unnecessary speculation is avoided.’
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speculation → ask → ?
A spokesman for the second force, West Mercia Police, said Cheshire Constabulary were leading on the matter, adding: ‘At this time there is no further action for West Mercia Police.’
Sir Ranulph Fiennes and his second wife Louise Millington-Cotes, pictured after returning to Britain following a failed attempt to climb Everest
Sir Ranulph pictured with TV adventurer Ben Fogle, who has called on police to investigate the 'very troubling' way his friend is being kept 'isolated'
Often described as the world’s greatest living explorer, Sir Ranulph’s achievements include running seven marathons in seven days across seven continents, and climbing Everest aged 65, four years after a heart attack.
But after marrying Ms Millington-Cotes, who is 23 years his junior, in 2005, a little over a year after the death of his first wife, she became increasingly ‘dominating’, according to Mr Millington-Cotes, who describes himself as ‘estranged’ from his mother.
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who → say → mother
Friends and a business associate told The Mail on Sunday a similar story, with one reporting that Sir Ranulph spoke of ‘only ever being allowed 24 hours at a time away from her’.
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Ranulph → tell → her
After she was reportedly granted lasting power of attorney over Sir Ranulph in 2024, friends and family say they were initially allowed to visit them at a London care home as long as they signed a non-disclosure agreement first.
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they → grant → agreement
But since then he has been kept in a succession of care homes, reportedly under a false name, with the Care Inspectorate concluding that he had been unlawfully deprived of his liberty.
Fellow explorer Bear Grylls said: ‘We have been desperately trying to connect with Ran for a year now to no avail.
‘
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We → keep → avail
But truth always wins out.
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truth → win → ?
‘These reports of his isolation from his loved ones and treatment in care homes are so deeply disturbing.
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reports → love → homes
‘It’s past time for the Office for the Public Guardian and the police to investigate urgently.
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Office → ’ → Guardian
We owe it to him.
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We → owe → him
‘Ran we are coming!’
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we → come → ?
Ben Fogle, who like Sir Ranulph has walked to the South Pole and summited Everest, added: ‘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.'
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man → walk → family
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail single-handed and non-stop around the world, added: ‘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.
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he → sail → family
We must know what’s happening to him.’
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what → know → him
Shadow health and care secretary Damian Hinds has also called for ‘any potential failings’ at the care watchdog the Office Of The Public Guardian to be ‘looked into’.
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failings → call → Guardian
Mr Millington-Cotes, 31, is now seeking to raise £55,000 to fund legal action if that becomes necessary.
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that → seek → action
So far more than £21,000 has been donated.
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21,000 → donate → ?
‘I want to ensure his complete free will, the ability to walk outside, see whoever he wants,’ he said.
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he → want → whoever
Mrs Millington-Cotes, 59, has so far not responded to requests for comment.
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Cotes → respond → comment
Mr Millington-Cotes’s GoFundMe page can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/helpingranfiennes
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page → find → https://www.gofundme.com/f/helpingranfiennes
The Aporia
