Family and friends of explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes say they have not been able to visit him for months and do not know where he is, amid allegations that his wife has kept him isolated.
The 82-year-old has been admitted to multiple care homes under false names, it is purported, with his wife Louise Millington-Cotes allegedly keeping him "isolated" during a family rift.
King reportedly told to 'back off'
The King reportedly tried to check on Sir Ranulph's welfare, only to be told to "back off" by Ms Millington-Cotes, according to reports.
The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), a care watchdog, refused nine times to investigate. MPs have urged the body to look into Sir Ranulph's welfare, but the OPG said the case is outside of its remit. Various authorities have been asked to check on the explorer on 29 separate occasions, The Telegraph reports.
Family and friends speak out
Actor Joseph Fiennes visited his cousin at a London care home last year, The Times reported. He told The Telegraph: "It is terrible that petitions for Ran have gone unanswered.
"If that happens to Ran I can’t bear to think how many others that has happened to and is happening to. It throws up vital questions, including questions for care homes and legal services."
TV presenters and stepson express concern
TV presenters Bear Grylls and Ben Fogle have also said they are worried about Sir Ranulph, who climbed Mount Everest, became the first person to visit the North Pole and South Pole by surface means and was the first person to completely cross Antarctica on foot. He has Parkinson's Disease.
Sir Ranulph's stepson, Alex Millington-Cotes, told the BBC that the power of attorney should be "removed from my own mother", suggesting that she does not "fully his best interests in mind".
"He's not an isolated type of person, and so to see him isolated now is very painful," Mr Millington-Cotes added.
Arabella Pepper, the younger sister of Sir Ranulph's late first wife, Ginny, said she had not been able to see Sir Ranulph for over a year.
"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.
Police response
Cheshire Police has said it is aware of friends and relatives’ fears over Sir Ranulph's health, but added that there were "no immediate safeguarding concerns" regarding his care.
