Caroline Flack’s death has been ruled as a suicide, following an inquest.
The
Love Island presenter died in February at the age of 40, with coroner Mary Hassell saying she has “no doubt” that she intended to take her own life.
Caroline was on bail and awaiting trial after pleading not guilty to charges of assault, following a row with her boyfriend Lewis Burton in December 2019.
The coroner told Poplar Coroner’s Court on Thursday: “The reason for coming to an inquest is to understand the sequence of events leading to death, and which events had an impact on death.
“The way you understand that is by listening to the evidence. I appreciate everybody in court is just as able to make up their own minds as I am.”She continued: “The key decision for me to make is whether Caroline took her own life.
“I have to be satisfied she acted in a way so as to cause her death, and secondly that she intended to cause her death. In Caroline’s case I am entirely satisfied she intended to cause her own death.”
Describing the method of death, Hassell added: “She had only one expectation – her own death. There’s no doubt in my mind at all.”
Hassell told the court: “Caroline had fluctuating mental ill health, she had had struggles in the past.
“She had had difficulties. In spite of the fact she may have led – to some – a charmed life, actually the more famous she got the more some of these difficulties increased – she had to deal with the media in a way most of us don’t.
“It was played out in the national press – and that was incredibly difficult for her. She faced the prospect of not working in the
Job she loved, losing a great deal.
“I find the reason for her taking her life was she now knew she was being prosecuted for certainty, and she knew she would face the media, press, publicity – it would all come down upon her. To me, that’s it in essence.”The late presenter’s mother, Chris, then said via video-link: “I totally agree, I think you got it spot on.
“We know you are not allowed to say certain things and it’s up to us if we want to take it any further, and we don’t. You’re spot on.”
During the first day of the inquest, Caroline’s family said she had been “seriously let down by the authorities” and was “hounded” by the press over her then-upcoming trial in the weeks before she died.
Useful websites and helplines
Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.