Six Years Since Caroline Flack's Death: Inside Her Haunting Final Days

In the weeks, days, and mere hours before her death, there were urgent phone calls, paramedics at her door, and conversations about a future she was unsure she could face. Six years on, those details continue to prompt lingering questions.

This weekend, February 15, marks six years since the tragic death of Caroline Flack. The television presenter was found dead at her home in north-east London on February 15, 2020, after taking her own life. She was 40 years old.

As the details of Flack's last days surface through legal accounts, inquest evidence, and recollections from those closest to her, they paint a picture of a scared and isolated woman.

The Call to a Lawyer

Just three weeks before she died, Flack made a call she hoped might change the course of her immediate future. On January 24, 2020, she phoned Lancashire-based solicitor Nick Green, seeking help as she faced a forthcoming trial for assault after an incident involving her boyfriend, Lewis Burton.

Flack had been connected to Green by fellow television presenter Melanie Sykes, who was said to be deeply worried about her. He later recalled being struck by how frightened Flack sounded at the start of their conversation, revealing:

"I took the call, and instantly recognised the fear and pain in her voice. She was close to tears. I broke the ice by interrupting her. 'Caroline, I must warn you, if you start to cry, I'll put the phone down.'"

He added that, despite her distress, there were moments where her familiar humour surfaced, suggesting she was still searching for a way through the situation.

A central concern for Flack, Green said, was police body-cam footage from the night officers attended her north London flat on December 12, 2019. Police had found both the "Love Island" star and Burton covered in blood, and the former had cuts to her wrist.

After treatment in hospital, she was initially served with a caution before later being charged with assault and told she would stand trial in March 2020.

Friends, Green said, understood Flack to be terrified at the prospect of that footage being aired publicly and the media attention she believed would follow.

He also raised concerns about an unusually strict no-contact bail condition that prevented her from contacting Burton. Green suggested the restriction was difficult to justify given that Burton did not want Flack prosecuted and refused to make a statement in the hope the case would be dropped.

At an inquest held in August 2020 at Poplar Coroner's Court, the court heard details of Flack's final night and the emergency response that preceded her death.

The Lancashire-based solicitor also noted that the blood police found was Flack's, while Burton was said to have had a superficial injury that required no treatment.

"I believe it was the invoking of this 'no contact' condition which sowed the seeds for her suicide. It ensured she remained isolated and emotional, and it impacted constantly on her fragile mental state," he revealed.

Green further claimed Flack told him she was frightened of a female Crown Prosecution Service prosecutor and believed she had been advised not to challenge the no-contact order, partly due to fears of further press coverage.

He said Flack told him she felt unable to cope with any additional attention and believed the footage could be used against her. Three weeks after that call, she was found dead after learning her trial would proceed.

Refusing a Hospital Stay

At an inquest held in August 2020 at Poplar Coroner's Court, the court heard details of Flack's final night and the emergency response that preceded her death.

Evidence included testimony that she was treated by paramedics on February 14, after her friend, Mollie Grosberg, called an ambulance. Grosberg said she found Flack unconscious on the sofa and surrounded by tablets.

Paramedic Tony Rumore told the court that Flack was sitting up, alert, and slightly lethargic, but was not slurring her words and was able to answer questions. Rumore said that when he asked if she had intended to harm herself, Flack replied, "No." He added:

"She said it was merely an attempt to sleep and escape from the stresses she was under."

The paramedic also revealed that Flack was reluctant to engage and did not want paramedics there. He told the court he wanted her assessed by a psychiatrist, but the presenter insisted she would not go to hospital and wanted to remain at home.

Grosberg and another friend stayed overnight. However, by the following morning, they left, and Flack was found dead later that day.

A Walk in Stoke Newington Cemetery

In the days after her death, a friend, Simon Carroll, shared an account of spending the day before Flack died with her at Stoke Newington Cemetery. Carroll said they met on Valentine's Day morning and walked through the cemetery together, holding hands and speaking about her future.

A paramedic, David O'Toole, later attended and the court heard that one of the crew noticed a handwritten note placed on an open magazine on the coffee table.

He described her as exhausted towards the end of her life, yet still capable of laughter, even as fear about returning to court and the media attention she expected hung heavily over her.

Carroll also indicated that Flack wanted him to speak on her behalf about what had happened in the preceding months and reflected on how deeply she struggled, including with sleep, suggesting her life had become increasingly difficult to endure.

The Note Mentioning Burton

The inquest also heard that Flack left a handwritten note mentioning Burton. On February 15, her twin sister, Jody Flack, became alarmed after she could not reach the presenter and contacted her friend, Louise Teasdale.

Teasdale went with her father to help. After obtaining a spare key from the landlady, he entered the property and found Flack unconscious. He told the court that the presenter's sister began CPR and that he took over chest compressions while Flack's twin performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Teasdale's father said they continued lifesaving efforts for about 10 minutes before police arrived and took over. A paramedic, David O'Toole, later attended and the court heard that one of the crew noticed a handwritten note placed on an open magazine on the coffee table. The note read:

"I hope me and Lewis can one day find harmony."

Public Reaction Six Years On

Six years later, Flack's death still triggers strong responses, with many people debating what could have been done differently and what pressures she faced.

One netizen said, "She was a very vulnerable person with a fiery temperament, not a good combination when things go wrong. Unfortunately a more settled life would have been a better choice than chasing money and success."

Another person commented, "The tabloids hounded her, stalked her and were the final straw that broke her." A third wrote, "Just a tragic end to a lovely person's life."

Others have focused on the painful sense of what if, reflecting on how grief can fuel a desire to rewind events and intervene in the moments that led to loss.

The longer comment argued that the entertainment industry can overwhelm even the strongest people and suggested that, while it is natural to search for blame, retribution may not bring anyone peace.

In the end, as the anniversary returns, the accounts of Flack's final days continue to raise difficult questions about the intersection of legal processes, mental health, and the relentless spotlight that can follow public figures even in their darkest moments.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "help” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.