In the wake of Caroline Flack’s tragic death, Paddy McGuinness is urging people to check on their friends by sharing his final messages with the TV presenter.
The Take Me Out host shared the messages on Instagram, which took place at the end of December, just a couple of weeks before Caroline’s court appearance, following being charged with allegedly assaulting her boyfriend, Lewis Burton.
While the original message was left out of the post, Caroline could be seen thanking Paddy, to which he replied ‘bit of time out and you’ll be good to go Flack’.
Caroline wrote back, ‘thanks for reaching out x x.’
Sharing the screenshot on social media, Paddy wrote:
Such a shame. We’re all fragile and we all need an arm around the shoulder and some reassurance from time to time. Check in on your friends and family. Rest peacefully Caroline.
Caroline was found dead in her East London flat yesterday, February 15, with a lawyer for the family confirming she had taken her own life. She was 40 years old.
An ITV spokesperson said:
Everybody at Love Island and ITV is shocked and saddened by this desperately sad news.
Caroline was a much loved member of the Love Island team and our sincere thoughts and condolences are with her family and friends.
Caroline’s boyfriend, whom she was banned from contacting as part of her bail arrangements, later shared a heartbreaking tribute to the presenter, in which he promised to be her voice.
‘My heart is broken we had something so special,’ he wrote. ‘I am so lost for words I am in so much pain I miss you so much I know you felt safe with me you always said I don’t think about anything else when I am with you and I was not allowed to be there this time I kept asking and asking.’
Lewis added, ‘I will be your voice baby I promise I will ask all the questions you wanted and I will get all the answers nothing will bring you back but I will try make you proud everyday. I love you with all my heart.’
Caroline is survived by Lewis, her parents, Christine and Ian, her brother Paul, and sisters Elizabeth and Jody.
Our thoughts are with Caroline’s loved ones at this difficult time. Rest in peace, Caroline.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.
Emma Rosemurgey is an NCTJ trained Journalist who started her career by producing The Royal Rosemurgey newspaper in 2004, which kept her family up to date with the goings on of her sleepy north east village. She graduated from the University of Central Lancashire in Preston and started her career in regional newspapers before joining Tyla (formerly Pretty 52) in 2017, and progressing onto UNILAD in 2019.