Family Says They Cannot Locate or Contact Sir Ranulph Fiennes as Concerns Grow Over Explorer's Care

The family and friends of Sir Ranulph Fiennes, one of Britain's most celebrated adventurers, say they have been unable to visit or contact him for months, raising troubling questions about the wellbeing and whereabouts of the 82-year-old explorer.

His former sister-in-law told the BBC that she does not know where he is, and that nobody among his circle has been permitted to go and see him. The comments have intensified a growing dispute involving Sir Ranulph's second wife, Louise Millington-Cotes.

It has been alleged that the explorer has been admitted to a series of care homes under assumed names, a claim that has circulated amid what has been described as a family rift. Louise Millington-Cotes did not immediately respond to the allegations or to the BBC's request for comment, leaving key questions unanswered.

Cheshire Police said they are aware of the concerns that have been raised regarding Sir Ranulph and stated that they are satisfied he is living in an appropriate setting with suitable care. The force added that there were "no immediate safeguarding concerns," a statement that appears intended to reassure the public even as relatives continue to press for access.

Sir Ranulph has not been seen in public for nearly two years. His withdrawal from public view came only months after he spoke openly about being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a disclosure that had already prompted widespread sympathy and concern among his many admirers.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest living explorers, Sir Ranulph was the first person to visit both the north and south poles by surface means in the early 1980s. The Guinness Book of Records has described him as "the world's greatest living explorer," a title that reflects a career built on feats of endurance that few others have attempted, let alone completed.

The current dispute has now spilled into the public domain through Sir Ranulph's stepson, Alex Millington-Cotes. He told the BBC's Newsnight programme that he wanted to see the power of attorney "removed from my own mother" and placed instead in the hands of people who have "fully his best interests in mind."

In remarks that underlined the emotional strain on the family, he said his stepfather is "not an isolated type of person," adding that "to see him isolated now is very painful." The comments suggest a deep divide within the family over who should be responsible for the explorer's affairs and day-to-day care.

Last week, Alex Millington-Cotes launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise legal fees aimed at helping to "locate and safeguard" the explorer. He wrote that the fundraiser had been created "as a result of our concern and desperation" after trying "multiple avenues" to find his stepfather, according to the BBC.

Also speaking to Newsnight, Arabella Pepper, the younger sister of Sir Ranulph's late first wife, Ginny, said she had not been able to see her former brother-in-law for more than a year. Her account adds another voice to the family's mounting frustration over the lack of access.

"All his friends and family want to see him and take him Toblerones and cheer him up, but we don't know where is, and he's not available, he's not accessible – that's what worries us," she said, describing a situation in which even small gestures of affection have been made impossible.

Pepper alleges that she was only able to see him in July 2025 after she admitted herself to a care home where she had been told he was staying. That detail has fuelled concerns that the explorer's location has been deliberately concealed from those closest to him, although the allegation has not been independently verified.

She described the encounter in vivid terms, saying: "The first thing I said to him, apart from the usual greetings, was that everybody was worried about him, was looking for him, was longing to see him." According to her account, the response was immediate and heartfelt.

"The relief on his face was very obvious, and he said, send a message to everybody, send them my love, tell them I love them and tell them I'm longing to see them," Pepper told the BBC. If accurate, the account suggests the explorer himself remains eager for contact with family and friends.

The case raises broader questions about the safeguarding of elderly people living with serious health conditions, particularly when disputes arise among relatives. Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological condition that can affect movement, speech and cognition, and the needs of patients often change over time.

Legal experts note that powers of attorney are designed to ensure that decisions are made in a person's best interests, but disputes over their use can be difficult to resolve, especially when families are divided. In such situations, concerns are typically directed to local authorities, the Office of the Public Guardian, or the police, depending on the nature of the allegations.

For now, the official position from Cheshire Police offers a measure of reassurance, but it has not resolved the central complaint from Sir Ranulph's relatives and friends: that they simply cannot reach him. The explorer's stepson's fundraising effort and the family's public appeals suggest they intend to keep pressing the issue.

The story has resonated well beyond the family circle, given Sir Ranulph's status as a national figure whose exploits have inspired generations. A man who spent decades navigating the planet's most hostile environments now finds himself at the centre of a deeply personal and painful dispute that shows no sign of an easy resolution. The BBC has sought comment from Louise Millington-Cotes, and further developments are likely as the family's campaign continues.