British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes’s stepson, Alexander Millington-Cotes, has launched a £55,000 crowdfunding campaign to hire legal representation and locate the 82-year-old adventurer, whose exact whereabouts remain unknown to several family members and close friends.
Crowdfunding Campaign Launched for Legal Representation
Alexander Millington-Cotes, 31, initiated the online fundraiser to secure £55,000 in legal fees aimed at locating and safeguarding his stepfather. According to details shared on the fundraising page, the capital will fund specialist legal advice, court document preparation, and efforts to determine the exact location of the retired explorer, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease. Mr Millington-Cotes stated that his stepfather spent his life pushing boundaries for others and now needs people to fight for him.
Concerns Over Care Facility Placements and Legal Guardianship
Louise Millington-Cotes holds lasting power of attorney over Sir Ranulph and has placed the retired adventurer in a series of care facilities over the past two years, including locations in London, Wales, and north-west England. Friends and family members have raised serious concerns regarding her handling of his care and are demanding an urgent investigation by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). Reports indicate that the Care Inspectorate of Wales concluded Sir Ranulph had been unlawfully deprived of his liberty while housed at a facility in Wales, after the owner sought regulatory advice due to missing legally required protective paperwork.
High-Profile Figures and Relatives Voice Alarm
Prominent friends and fellow adventurers, including veteran BBC correspondent John Simpson, Bear Grylls, and Ben Fogle, have publicly expressed deep concern over the situation. John Simpson wrote on social media that he was horrified by the reports and eager to share what he knows with relevant authorities. Bear Grylls noted that associates had tried desperately to connect with Sir Ranulph for a year without success, calling for an urgent investigation by police and the OPG. Arabella McIntyre-Brown, a former sister-in-law who visited Sir Ranulph at a London care home in 2025 before he was relocated, described him as lucid with a clear memory and intact personality, noting he stressed a desire to see his friends.
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