Caroline Flack left a tragic ‘handwritten note’ on day of her death, her inquest heard today.
The 40-year-old former Love Island and X Factor star was found hanged at her home in Stoke Newington, north-east London, on February 15.
During the inquest, paramedic David O’Toole said he entered the property on the day of Caroline’s death and saw two women distraught on a sofa.
He said the victim appeared to have been “dead for a number of hours”.
He said the women said they last saw her alive at 10.30am that day.
One of the crew pointed to a handwritten note placed on an open magazine on the coffee table.
Caroline Flack left a tragic ‘handwritten note’ on day of her death, her inquest heard today (Image: BBC)
It referenced, positively, “Lewis”, believed to be Flack’s boyfriend Lewis Burton.
She had been due to stand trial for assaulting her boyfriend, former tennis player and model Lewis Burton in December, after police arriving at the bloodstained scene described it looking like “a horror movie”.
She immediately stepped back from presenting duties.
Flack’s family had increased concerns about her mental state as the trial loomed, while Mr Burton also pleaded with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to drop the case.
Caroline’s note was simply references ‘Lewis’ (Image: Collect)
Flack’s inquest was opened and adjourned during a four-minute hearing in Poplar, east London, on February 19 when the coroner heard the celebrity was found “lying on her back”.
She was declared dead at the scene and her body was identified by her twin sister, Jody Flack.
A family lawyer previously said the television personality died by suicide.
The star was found hanged at her home in Stoke Newington, north-east London, on February 15 (Image: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Her death prompted an outpouring of sorrow from celebrity friends, colleagues and fans, who referenced one of Flack’s social media posts from December in which she urged people to “be kind”.
Flack’s management team criticised the CPS for conducting a “show trial” which prompted a review into her death.
However, the CPS found the case was handled “appropriately”.
Flack’s mother Chris said her daughter’s legal team and psychologist warned about the potential for the former Strictly champion to kill herself.
“The CPS were fully aware of these matters and the risk when they decided to continue the prosecution,” Mrs Flack said.
(Image: PA)
She described an allegation that her daughter hit Mr Burton over the head with a lamp as “false”.
She also said the claim was denied by both Mr Burton and Flack and “was completely inconsistent with the injury that Mr Burton sustained”.
Flack’s family also posthumously shared a social media post the troubled star had written but was persuaded by advisers not to publish before her death in which she disclosed having an “emotional breakdown”.
She wrote: “I’ve been having some sort of emotional breakdown for a very long time.
“But I am not a domestic abuser.
“The reason I am talking today is because my family can’t take anymore.
Flack’s mother described an allegation that her daughter hit Mr Burton over the head with a lamp as ‘false’ (Image: Instagram)
“I’ve lost my job. My home. My ability to speak.
“And the truth has been taken out of my hands and used as entertainment.
“I’ve been pressing the snooze button on many stresses in my life – for my whole life.
“I’ve accepted shame and toxic opinions on my life for over 10 years and yet told myself it’s all part of my job. No complaining.
“The problem with brushing things under the carpet is …. they are still there and one day someone is going to lift that carpet up and all you are going to feel is shame and embarrassment.”
Her suicide was the latest connected to Love Island, following the deaths of contestants Mike Thalassitis, 26, in March 2019 and Sophie Gradon, 32, in June 2018.
Miss Gradon’s boyfriend Aaron Armstrong, 25, died three weeks after he found his girlfriend.
To contact the Samaritans, call 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or visithttps://www.samaritans.org/
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
