CAROLINE Flack’s close friend who was with her just hours before she killed herself has shared a heartbreaking photograph of the Love Island star holding her eight-year-old daughter as a baby.
The TV presenter was found dead at the age of 40 at her London home on Saturday after taking her own life.
Celebrity hair stylist Lou Teasdale posted the touching photo of Caroline and her daughter Lux from 2011 on Instagram last night, saying: “This little lady misses you ‘Calorine’.
“Anyone have any nice advice for me with an eight-year-old learning about grief?
“She’s lost two very special people who lived with us in the space of 12 months and I wanna make sure I’m saying the right thing – if there’s such a thing.”
In another tribute, Lou shared a series of snaps of them together, writing: “Here’s us like 5 days ago really happy lolling telling each other we’re really fit AND funny and 5 years ago, and 10 years ago. I love you. I hope you are at peace now. Til the end my beautiful friend, Caroline x”
Caring Lou, 36, had stayed with Caroline on Valentine’s Day and overnight.
Caroline had been left terrified and frightened after learning prosecutors were not going to drop the assault case against her.
Friends and family were increasingly concerned for her welfare so hair stylist Lou volunteered to be at her side on Friday.
That evening, at 10.30pm, an ambulance arrived in response to a 999 call made from the flat.
Two paramedic crews assessed Caroline before deciding she did not need hospital treatment and was fit to be left at home.
Lou stuck by Caroline’s side all night before leaving at 9.30am to go to the shops.
Sources said Caroline’s body was discovered by a friend later that day.
Ambulance crews were called again at 2.30pm and the star was pronounced dead at the scene.
London Ambulance service confirmed paramedics were sent on Friday night, and again on Saturday afternoon.
A close source said: “Caroline was with Lou and other friends and so everyone was satisfied she would be OK.
“Lou then stayed overnight. She was absolutely brilliant with her. On Saturday morning Caroline insisted she was fine and persuaded her friend to go home.
“No one is blaming Lou for a second. She couldn’t have done any more. She is understandably distraught. It is so awful for her.”
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Another close friend, Mollie Grosberg, paid tribute to the Caroline and shared a number of photos of them together.
She wrote on Instagram: “This is the worst pain I’ve ever felt and we all feel it. This massive and painful and heartbreaking loss for all her friends and her incredible family.
“I hope we find peace with each other the way she has found it now. She brought us all together. I love you forever and always my baby girl.”
Caroline had received news on Valentine’s Day that, despite her appeal, the Crown Prosecution Service were pressing ahead with her case.
She and boyfriend Lewis Burton had pleaded with authorities for it to be dropped given her vulnerable mental state and the lack of public interest.
A court heard last year that Caroline was accused of hitting Lewis, 27, around the head with a lamp before flipping over a table after officers arrived.
Magistrates were also told how police bodycam footage had captured Caroline in the moments after the incident.
Sources close to her legal team said that after Caroline was arrested, lawyers for the CPS had initially decided not to charge her.
It is understood senior police officers pressed for a charging decision.
In the end, the CPS used guidelines designed to protect long-term sufferers of domestic abuse to charge her — despite Lewis supporting Caroline and not wanting her to be prosecuted.
Lewis, who was not allowed to have any contact with his girlfriend since late last year due to her bail conditions, said he would now be her “voice” and would “get all the answers”, in an emotional tribute on Instagram.
Caroline, who was described as “vulnerable” by her management, stepped down from presenting the current winter series of Love Island after she was charged with assaulting Lewis at her flat in Islington in December.
She entered a not guilty plea to the assault charge at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court and was said to be determined to prove her innocence.
Caroline was due to stand trial on March 4 charged with common assault.
At a previous hearing, the court heard that while under caution Caroline told police she would kill herself and that she said: “I did it.”
Magistrates heard how Lewis had dialled 999 and told the operator: “She’s trying to kill me, mate.”
Prosecutors said he was hit over the head with a lamp as he was sleeping after she found texts on his phone which had enraged her.
In a statement, her management criticised the CPS.
Francis Ridley, of Money Talent Management, said: “The CPS should look at themselves and how they pursued a show trial that was not only without merit but not in the public interest. And ultimately resulted in significant distress to Caroline.”
The CPS extended “deepest sympathies” to Caroline’s family and friends.
It said “Given the tragic circumstances, we will not comment on the specifics of this case at this stage.”
In a tweet, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said of Caroline’s passing: “Shows we must do so much more as a society to look out for each other — whether online or off.”
The tragedy has put the spotlight back on the pressures which come with TV celebrity.
Caroline is the third person linked to Love Island to have killed themselves.
Sophie Gradon, who appeared as a contestant in the show in 2016, was found dead at her home in 2018 at the age of 32.
Mike Thalassitis, who appeared in the 2017 series, was 26 when he was found dead in a park in March last year.
ITV cancelled scheduled Love Island episodes over the weekend but said the show would return tonight with a tribute to Caroline.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans on (free) 116123
