He also ran seven marathons on seven continents in seven days in 2003, and climbed the treacherous north face of the Eiger in 2007.

BBC: Sir Ranulph Fiennes charged after crash in Stockport

In 2003 he ran seven marathons on seven continents in seven days, and in 2007 he climbed the treacherous north face of the Eiger in Switzerland.

BBC: Sir Ranulph Fiennes pleads guilty to speeding charge

He was already a hero in Austria for having made, with three others, the first successful ascent of the infamous north face of the Eiger in 1938.

ECONOMIST: Heinrich Harrer