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Sir Ranulph Fiennes was 'unlawfully deprived of his liberty' after his wife placed him in a series of care homes following his disappearance from public life two years ago, it was reported last night.
asserted
it → see → life
The retired explorer and author – whose whereabouts first became a mystery when he failed to appear at a gala in his honour in 2024 – has been staying in various care facilities under a false name, on the instructions of his wife, Louise Millington-Cotes, who also enforced strict conditions on how he was to be cared for.
asserted
he → retire → conditions
It has now been revealed the owner of one of the facilities where Sir Ranulph, 82, resided raised concerns regarding his welfare to authorities and the police.
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Ranulph → reveal → authorities
The owner of the care home in Wales is said to have written to the Office of the Public Guardian to alert them of the unusual medical provisions imposed by Ms Millington-Cotes, including concerns about the legitimacy of a 'do not resuscitate' document she provided.
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she → say → document
At the beginning of this year, a care watchdog found Sir Ranulph was being deprived of his liberty unlawfully as his wife did not check the relevant legal protocols were implemented.
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protocols → find → liberty
News of his treatment comes as Ms Millington-Cotes, 59, and Sir Ranulph's other family and friends continue to be in dispute over his care, with some even considering legal action to challenge her guardianship.
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some → come → guardianship
Friends have previously expressed concern for his safety, alleging his wife would not tell them where he was staying or allow them to visit.
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them → express → them
Before his disappearance, Sir Ranulph had spoken of the challenges of living with Parkinson's.
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Ranulph → speak → Parkinson
Sir Ranulph Fiennes, who has not been publicly seen in two years, has been kept in a series of care homes illegally by his wife, Louise Millington-Cotes
The owner of one of the facilities where former explorer Sir Ranulph resided raised concerns regarding his welfare to authorities and the police
News of his treatment comes as Sir Ranulph's wife is in dispute with his family and friends over his care (Sir Ranulph pictured with King Charles in London in 2012)
The mystery of his whereabouts emerged after he failed to attend a Royal Geographical Society gala evening celebrating his life on October 23, 2024.
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he → see → October
Instead he appeared in a brief, pre-recorded video.
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he → appear → video
He has not been seen in public since.
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He → see → public
It was reported Sir Ranulph spent time at a care home in London last year, where his wife asked visitors to sign non-disclosure agreements before they could see him.
uncertain
they → report → him
He was later moved from that home and spent time at care facilities in Wales and Cheshire.
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He → move → Wales
At the home in Wales Mrs Millington-Cotes employed a private carer to look after him and supply his medication, instead of registering him with a GP.
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Cotes → employ → GP
But despite being alerted by the owner of the care home that she must ensure a deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS) order was in place, Mrs Millington-Cotes failed to do so.
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Cotes → alert → place
The owner then contacted the Care Inspectorate of Wales, who in January concluded Sir Ranulph was 'deprived of his liberty unlawfully' as no authorised deprivation was enacted that 'reflects the current residence and restrictions in place'.
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that → contact → place
The watchdog concluded the former explorer is 'under continuous supervision and control' and 'is not free to leave and is not able to consent to care, treatment and accommodation.'
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explorer → conclude → care
The care home subsequently alerted Mrs Millington-Cotes to the illegality and gravity of the circumstances, but she did not want them to apply for a DoLS order.
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them → alert → order
When Sir Ranulph was removed from the care facility, it had still not been acquired.
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it → remove → facility
Sir Ranulph had been registered at the care home under a false name by his wife, who insisted he wore a hat, sunglasses and gloves to prevent him being recognised when he was taken for walks by his carer.
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he → register → carer
Another issue involved a do not resuscitate order given to the care facility by Mrs Millington-Cotes, which could not be validated.
uncertain
which → involve → Cotes
The care facility owner said they had not written to the Office of the Public Guardian for a resident for over eight years.
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they → say → years
Sir Ranulph married Mrs Millington-Cotes following the death of his first wife, Virginia 'Ginny' Fiennes, in 2004 from cancer.
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Ranulph → marry → cancer
He became a father for the first time shortly after they were married, when their daughter Elizabeth was born.
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daughter → become → time
His friends – many of whom were not invited to the wedding – spoke of being cut out since the marriage.
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many → invite → marriage
The Daily Mail was unable to contact Ms Millington-Cotes for comment.
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Mail → contact → comment
The Aporia
