In the Press

Tony Medniuk, The Coldest Journey chairman, said he was “tremendously proud” of the Ice Team’s unanimous decision to carry on after Sir Ranulph Fiennes developed second stage frostbite in his left hand. He said he was profoundly disappointed for Ran and the team, but that the contingency planning that had followed on had been excellent.”Don’t be under any illusions of the hardship and t…

Within the last few minutes, Sir Ranulph Fiennes said at a press conference that he was “very frustrated” at being back in the UK six months before the Ice Team was even meant to finish the first winter traverse of Antarctica. “But I am not good at crying over spilt milk – or spilt fingers,” he said. “It is extremely frustrating. I have been working on this full time and unpaid for five years.”…

With the Ice Team getting on with their task at hand on the ice, Ran was today getting on with his task at hand – namely, his hand. After arriving safely in Cape Town this morning he was whisked away to an undisclosed medical facility for assessment and treatment. He is now recuperating in private until his return to the UK. Earlier today he released the following statement:”I have undergone a…

Dear All, Below is the official line on the latest from Antarctica. This is what is being sent to the media around the world right now. We will be keeping our Facebook page, Twitter feed and website up to date with all of these latest announcements, as well as additional blogs, images and footage, making this the place to visit for all the latest for expedition news and Ran’s journey home.

Thank you to all of our well-wishers on this difficult day, your continued support means a tremendous amount to the entire team both in Antarctica and in the UK. Sir Ranulph’s departure from the ice will be the first of no doubt many trials the Ice Team will have to surmount in coming months if they are to succeed in this epic challenge. They are a strong and experienced group, and those of us…

We regret to announce that Sir Ranulph Fiennes has developed a case of frostbite. The condition is such that he has very reluctantly decided with the support of the team doctor and in the interests of the success of the expedition and its associated aims, to withdraw from Antarctica while the possibility to do so still exists, before the onset of the Antarctic winter. This decision has not been…

“As a trustee for The Coldest Journey I have been looking forward to this day for weeks. To think that the team are now well and truly on their way to attempting this extraordinary challenge is terrifically ex…citing. I can only imagine how Sir Ranulph Fiennes and the rest of the Ice Team must be feeling right now. I think for most people the idea of what lies ahead would be simply petrifying…

“I can only wish you God speed and every possible good fortune in this wonderful, dotty adventure. I’m somebody who greatly admires the kind of intrepid explorer activity undertaken by Ran and others and at the same time to raise money for a remarkable and worthwhile cause of preventable blindness around the world.”…

Here is the first ever publicised photograph of The Coldest Journey’s Ice Team. Standing proudly in front of the eye-catching logo of our charitable initiative, Seeing is Believing, they are: (left to right) Richmond Dykes, Dr Rob Lambert, Ian Prickett, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Brian Newham and Spencer Smirl. You make us proud guys!