How did Britain's most famous living explorer end up hidden away?
Social workers working with older people have expressed concerns for world-famous explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, who has been embroiled in a row over his care.
His second wife Louise Millington-Cotes was granted a lasting power of attorney (LPA) in 2024, and has since moved Sir Ranulph between several care homes. There are claims from family and friends she imposed strict controls over who could see him.
One of the care homes wrote to the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) with concerns about a ‘do not resuscitate’ document his wife had provided. The home also alerted the Care Inspectorate Wales.
A deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS) order should have been in place. The Care Inspectorate Wales declared earlier this year that Sir Ranulph was "being deprived of his liberty unlawfully as there is no authorised deprivation in place which reflects the current residence and restrictions in place".
The watchdog instructed the care home to make an application under the deprivation of liberty safeguards "as soon as practicable”.
Under Schedule A1 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, the care home as the managing authority is responsible for requesting authorisation from the local council – not family members under an LPA arrangement.
Sir Ranulph, 82, has not been seen in public for two years.
He is described as the "the world's greatest living explorer" by Guinness World Records and was the first person to visit both the North and South Poles overland in the early 1980s.
He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2020.
Social work reaction
Michelle Dami-Johnson, who has overseen some of the UK’s most complex care cases at government level, said: “In everything that's been reported, one thing is conspicuously absent – Sir Ranulph’s own account.
“Not his wishes, not his preferences, not a single recent record of what he has actually said he wants.
“His voice does not appear anywhere in the public reporting.”
Her in-depth reflection of Sir Ranulph’s case for PSW can be read here.
Geraldine Nosowska, co-chair of the BASW Special Interest Group on Social work and Ageing, stressed the importance of the social work role in such cases: “Social workers have a professional qualification, including legal training, as well as relational skills and practical know-how.
“We know that reassuring support from a social worker can make a huge difference when people are trying to navigate health and care in later life.
“At BASW, we advocate for social work input whenever anyone is considering giving up the place they call home to go into a care home, so that people can make the decision that’s right for them.”
Denise Monks, BASW's professional practice lead for England, said: "The recent AGNI ruling has changed how deprivation of liberty is defined but in this instance a breach of article 8 of the Human Rights Act – the “right to respect for private and family life” – would seem to be a concern and may be a deprivation of liberty.
"A third party can request a DoLS assessment. Additionally, if the third party is concerned about coercion and control, they could make a request to the local authority to undertake a section 42 safeguarding enquiry under the Care Act."
The legal position
Lawyers say the case raises important questions about mental capacity, liberty, safeguarding and the responsibilities of LPA attorneys.
Under an LPA, attorneys must act in the best interests of the person who appointed them (the donor) at all times and comply with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
Their role is to make decisions on that person’s behalf, taking into account their wishes, feelings, values and beliefs wherever possible.
Section 11 of the Mental Capacity Act allows an attorney to restrain a person only where it is necessary to prevent harm and proportionate to the risk.
And section 4A says the Act "does not authorise any person" to deprive another of their liberty unless they are giving effect to a Court of Protection order or acting under the statutory authorisation scheme.
Spencer Gardner, legal director at law firm Blake Morgan said: “‘For families, [the case] demonstrates the importance of understanding both the powers and limitations of lasting powers of attorney. For care providers, it highlights the need to ensure that any deprivation of liberty is properly authorised and reviewed.
“For professionals working in the Court of Protection field, it reinforces the continuing importance of transparency, accountability and independent oversight whenever significant restrictions are imposed on a vulnerable person’s life.”
Lawyers advise families consider appointing more than one attorney – so that decisions can be made jointly – as well as ensuring they have early conversations about care, finances and personal values, lawyers are advising on the back of the case.
Response from public bodies
Cheshire Police looked into the explorer’s current care arrangements this week, and stated "no immediate safeguarding concerns have been identified at this time”.
Other public bodies also deflected mounting concerns in recent months – the care watchdog dismissed inquiries from family and friends of Sir Ranulph on nine occasions.
Even the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) said it could not investigate Sir Ranulph’s care arrangements, despite being the body responsible for policing legal guardians.
The family were advised by the OPG to contact the Court of Protection or the police, according to The Telegraph, which broke the story.
Twelve reports have reportedly been made to the Metropolitan Police, Cheshire Constabulary and West Mercia Police over the last two years to investigate his care.
An OPG spokesperson said: “We have a strict duty of confidentiality to all individuals who have made a Lasting Power of Attorney, and it would be deeply inappropriate to comment on a specific case.
“We take all safeguarding concerns seriously and investigate thoroughly where there is the evidence and legal basis to do so.”
Latest developments
Sir Ranulph's stepson, Alexander Millington-Cotes, 31, is seeking to raise £55,000 towards legal fees required to "locate and safeguard" his beloved stepfather.
He said he had received a call from police this week, which gave him 'hope'.