Six months after the tragic loss of Caroline Flack, an inquest into the 40-year-old's death is taking place this week. Caroline's friends and family have criticised the Crown Prosecution Service for pursuing a 'show trial' against the presenter prior to her death after her alleged assault on boyfriend Lewis Burton in December 2019, which both Lewis and Caroline denied.
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The court heard from Stephen Teasdale, father of Caroline's close friend Louise, how he and Caroline's twin sister Jody went to her flat after becoming concerned for her. He said: 'We came to the flat and tried to force entry. We thought about phoning the police but knew the landlady... We got the key and let ourselves into the flat.' He said that he and Jody gave Caroline CPR for five to ten minutes until the police arrived and took over.
Psychiatrist Dr Tamsin Lewis, who had been treating Caroline in the months prior to her death said that Caroline was having trouble sleeping, had been ‘incredibly distressed’ and had reported ‘panicky feelings all day – a sense of impending doom’, although she did not tell Dr Lewis that she was having suicidal thoughts.
Meanwhile, Caroline's friends Louise Teasdale and Mollie Grosberg had called paramedics to Caroline's flat the night before her death after they feared she had taken an overdose. Tony Rumore, one of those on the scene said: 'We asked Caroline if her intention was to harm or kill herself. She said it was merely an attempt to sleep and escape from the stresses she was under.'
The inquest also heard that paramedics found a handwritten note in Caroline's flat, which read: 'I hope me and Lewis can one day find harmony.' In the months prior to her death, Caroline had been banned from making contact with her boyfriend, despite his pleas for the court case to be dropped.
If you have been affected by Caroline's death or if you are experiencing emotional distress, you can call Samaritans free any time on 116 123 (this number will not appear on your phone bill), send an email to jo@samaritans.org or visit your local branch for support.
