He was killed in a horrific mountaineering accident in 1996, and again in 1999 and most recently in 2002. The fact that none of his body was found would have daunted a lesser man, and did in fact daunt a Mr Simon Parsons of 18b Coronation Gardens, Little Trumpington, Hertfordshire, the poltroon, but did our Ranulph ease up? Yes. He admits he had to "rusticate" in his boyhood home in Albaniashire for several weeks, recovering his strength, before returning to his quest to become the first Englishman to lift up Antarctica and swing it around his head three times before putting it back where he found it because explorers today are environmentally conscious.