Widow and Daughter Battle Over Explorer's £10M Fortune Eight Years After His Death
A High Court dispute erupts between the wife and daughter of mountaineer Paul Blelock Samuel, who died in an avalanche in Peru in 2018, over his substantial estate.
The widow and daughter of an explorer killed in a mountain avalanche are embroiled in a High Court dispute over his £10 million fortune, eight years after his death.
Paul Blelock Samuel, a 55-year-old mountaineer, explorer, author, and businessman, died in June 2018 along with two other climbers in Peru. He was caught in an ice avalanche while scaling Alpamayo, a peak in the Andes. According to his will, his estate was to be shared between his partner, Ana Lesiak Samuel, 59, and his daughter from a previous relationship, Kate Samuel, 25.
Samuel's adventurous life included sailing the South China Sea, trekking through the Borneo jungle, and scaling Mount Everest. Months after his death, a book titled 'Find Your Own Mountains', a collection of letters he wrote for Kate's 18th birthday reflecting on his experiences, was published.
The current legal battle centers on disagreements between Ana Samuel, Kate Samuel, and a lawyer appointed to oversee the distribution of the fortune, Anna Unett, which has led to years of delays. The court heard that much of Samuel's wealth, including Bank Farm valued at £780,000, was placed into a trust with equal shares designated for Ana and Kate. Some assets have been distributed, with Kate receiving £1 million and Ana being given the farm and another property.
Disagreements Over Estate Administration
Kate Samuel, supported by trustee Anna Unett, is seeking to have Ana Samuel removed as executor of the estate and a co-trustee. They accuse Ana of wasting time and incurring costs, suggesting that the estate administration would have been completed if not for her conduct since an April 2023 court order. Kate's legal team argues that Ana is unsuitable as an executor due to a strained relationship and a perceived lack of transparency in her dealings.
Ana Samuel, however, is contesting her removal, asserting that her late husband intended for her to manage his estate. Her legal counsel stated that Ana denies responsibility for the delays, attributing them instead to being denied access to vital estate documents by Mrs. Unett. Ana's team also noted a period of poor mental health in 2024 following her bereavement, which has since resolved, and highlighted her role in publishing Samuel's book and raising funds in his memory.
Lawyers for Mrs. Unett claim that the estate's administration has been complicated and delayed by Ana's conduct, describing her approach as generally uncooperative. Ana's legal team countered that Mrs. Unett is blaming her client for delays and suggested that if the administration is nearly complete, Ana, as the appointed executor, should be allowed to finalize it.
The dispute previously reached the High Court in 2023, with Ana failing in an attempt to remove Mrs. Unett and Samuel's father (who has since died) as trustees. Despite previous court directions on asset division, the disagreement has persisted.
A specific point of contention mentioned in court documents is a strain between Ana and Kate, exacerbated after Ana allegedly prevented Kate's mother from attending Samuel's memorial service. This incident is cited as a factor in the difficult relationship between the two women, which the will's trust aimed to address with a 'clean break'.
The hearing concluded after half a day, with the case adjourned and scheduled to return to court at a later date.