Sir Ranulph's frostbite frustration at missing out on Coldest Journey
Sir Ranulph Fiennes said he was "frustrated" at being forced to pull out of an expedition across Antarctica because of frostbite.
The 68-year-old was injured in a fall while skiing during training at a base camp in Antarctica and developed frostbite after taking off his outer gloves to fix a ski binding in temperatures of around minus 33C.
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Sir Ranulph Fiennes at Heathrow Airport, after frostbite forced him to pull out of an expedition across Antarctica
It forced the Exmoor-based explorer to quit the Coldest Journey expedition but he will continue to support the project through fundraising.
After flying back to the UK yesterday, Sir Ranulph told a press conference: "The vascular surgeon I saw yesterday said that, in his opinion – he wasn't sure – two of the fingers definitely would not require surgery and two of the fingers might require surgery."
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Although Sir Ranulph has had to give up the challenge, his team-mates will continue with the 2,000-mile trek, which they are expected to embark on later this month.
Hailed as the last great polar challenge, the journey across the Antarctic has never been attempted during the winter.
The team will experience some of the toughest conditions on earth – near permanent darkness and temperatures as low as minus 90C (minus 130F) during their six-month journey.
Describing how he felt at having to pull out, he went on: "It is extremely frustrating. I started working on this expedition five years ago.
"I've been working on it and nothing else full-time and unpaid for five years so it is definitely frustrating, but unavoidable, and I will make the best of it by focusing entirely on the expedition team."
Sir Ranulph said he got the frostbite while he was building up his skiing during preparations for the challenge.
"On this occasion with me I was trying to fix the ski binding in a total white-out," he said.
"I tried fixing the bindings with my big overgloves on – couldn't do a damn thing. You couldn't sort of peel a banana with them on.
"Some people would say surely you shouldn't take your mitts off.
"OK, so you sit there and go nowhere and die of cold. You've got to fix your bindings in order to go back. It's one of those things."
9 Comments
by Hocus_Pocus
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 8:31PM
“Dont worry, once he has made a total Ar$e of himself he will just change his name again, no one will notice will we......”
by omnivore23
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 12:58PM
“Go on Donut - you can get your foot further down your throat than that can't you?”
by MisterDonut
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 12:48PM
“They are all the same these rich middle class adventurers. Too much money and too much time on their hands. Look at Richard Branson. Always balooning off somewhere for charity we are told, yet always got his mugshot on the front of the paper. The next minute they are using their fame to try and legalise drugs and get their company to sell them to your kids. That's Branson, what are you trying to sell us Fiennes!”
by ineedtherapy
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 12:23PM
“Judging by the intellectual capacity displayed in so many of the postings MisterDonut seems to be to be appropriately named....”
by omnivore23
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 12:08PM
“So for all your froth and bile about "do-gooders" and "socialists" - this is what you offer as an alternative is it? Taking the mick out of someone who has done so much for others just because he happens to be older?
If that's your vision of a better world you can keep it - and good luck to you.”
by MisterDonut
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 11:25AM
“Good to see that the rest of the team are carrying on without the valuable 68 year old to hold them back. Wheres Sir Ranulph, he's gone for a wee again, bladder problems. Thanks for waiting chaps, what do I do with this, I wasn't expecting wee wee to freeze at minus 33 c. Must be time for a cuppa and a chocky biscuit chaps, did I tell you about the time I was at the north pole and had to fight off a sabre toothed tiger with only a plastic spoon.......”
by nicold
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 11:22AM
“MisterDonut
"Better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt"”
by omnivore23
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 10:14AM
“Which emergency services might they be then Donut?
This man has raised more than 25million pounds for charities with his expeditions.
What did you do today to make the world a better place?”
by MisterDonut
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 9:39AM
“Frostbite, yes Sir Ranulph, you wouldn't expect it to be cold there would you. These 68 year olds are always wandering off and trying things they are no longer capable of, I bet he never stopped saying 'I'm 68 you know' to the emergency services who had to risk their lives to carry him back to safety. This middle class holiday maker needs to choose somewhere warmer for his holidays next year, and get some holiday insurance.”