Sir Ranulph Fiennes and the falls 'faked for TV'

Sir Ranulph Fiennes, the world's "greatest living explorer" encouraged a fellow climber to stage falls to make a television programme more exciting, a court heard.

At his instigation his climbing partner, Natalie Harrison, volunteered to fall during a trip to the Cotopaxi region of Ecuador in October 2004 but hurt her head and neck. She sued Jagged Globe (Alpine) Ltd, which laid on guides but the Appeal Court ruled yesterday it was not liable.

Judge Freeland said: "The idea was that of Sir Ranulph Fiennes. He instigated it, but he was not willing to perform it. Miss Harrison was. She volunteered to do it. She did so with her eyes open."