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Several British adventurers, including Ben Fogle and Bear Grylls, rallied behind Sir Ranulph Fiennes amid concerns about his care.
An owner of a care home in Wales, where the 82-year-old explorer had been placed for seven weeks this year, said The telegraph they had raised several concerns about Sir Ranulph’s welfare to authorities, including the police.
The same newspaper claimed to have seen an email sent by a care watchdog which allegedly said Sir Ranulph was unlawfully detained in care homes and incapable of consenting to his care or treatment.
TV presenter and adventurer Mr Fogle said he was “deeply troubled” by reports about Sir Ranulph’s care and called for an investigation.
He wrote on social media: “For such a great man, my hero and a national treasure, to be treated in this way, isolated and kept away from his family and friends, is very disturbing. It is time for the Office of the Public Guardian and the police to investigate this matter.”
A GoFundMe page was set up to find the explorer by his stepson, Alexander Millington-Cotes, and has so far raised more than £6,600. He said The telegraph: “I just want to be able to see it… it seems like a really bad dream.”
Mr Grylls also joined calls for police and the OPG to investigate, saying he and others had “desperately tried to connect with Ran for a year now, to no avail”.
He said: “Ran is a true British icon to so many people around the world – a pioneer, a humble warrior and a good friend to many of us. He never failed to support me when I needed help. Now is our time.
“These reports of his isolation from his loved ones and his treatment in nursing homes are so deeply disturbing. For a hero like Ran to have to deal with this is very difficult to read. It is high time for the Office of the Public Guardian and the police to urgently investigate. We owe it to him. Ran, we are coming!”
BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Monty Don said: “My family and I have known Ran for over 40 years and he is one of the most inspiring, remarkable – and kindest – men I have known. And of course, as well as personal affection, he should have the admiration and respect of the whole country after such a remarkable life and not remain hidden away from his family and friends.
“If anyone can be called a national treasure it is Ran and I think it is vital that the OPG urgently investigates his case and all the facts can be brought to light.” »
Gini Bowring, whose father Anton Bowring is Sir Ranulph’s long-time business partner and friend, said: “Through all your expeditions and adventures, even to the most inhospitable places on Earth, we knew where you were,” according to The telegraph.
“We knew how you were. If you needed help, we knew how to reach you. For two years, it’s been silent. One minute you were there, the next… gone, unreachable!”
“We don’t know where you are or how you’re doing. We’ve been trying to find you, and we’re still trying. We all hope that the place you should be safest hasn’t become the most difficult place you’ve ever had to face.”
A spokesperson for the Care Inspectorate of Wales, who The telegraph said in an email to the owner of the Welsh care home that Sir Ranulph was “unlawfully deprived of his liberty”, said: “The Care Inspectorate Wales is committed to promoting the safety, welfare and rights of people who receive social care services across Wales.
“As part of this role, CIW monitors Deprivation of Liberty Protection (DoLS) measures to ensure that people living in care homes are protected and that any restrictions placed on their liberty are lawful, necessary and in their best interests.
“Where a person is under continuous supervision and control, is not free to leave and does not have capacity to consent to their care arrangements, providers must apply to the local authority for DoLS authorization and inform CIW when a request has been made.
“It would not be appropriate for us to comment on an individual’s personal circumstances or care arrangements.”
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