Fiennes begins long trek back to UK

Veteran explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes has been evacuated from Antarctica after being forced to pull out of an expedition team because of severe frostbite.

The 68-year-old had hoped to trek nearly 2,500 miles during the region’s bitterly cold winter. The expedition, dubbed “The Coldest Journey”, continues without him.

Sir Ranulph began his long journey back to the UK yesterday, after waiting for days for a break in a snow storm. A Belgian team transported him to the Princess Elisabeth Station, from where he will be airlifted to Cape Town, South Africa.

Sir Ranulph had to abandon the polar challenge because he suffered frostbite injuries to his left hand.