The brother of former Love Island presenter Caroline Flack was found hanging at his home after facing a series of personal difficulties, including his sister’s death by suicide and the loss of his father, an inquest heard.
Norfolk Coroner’s Court was told that Paul Flack, 55, had a history of depression and had nearly four times the legal drink-drive alcohol limit in his system when he died on the evening of June 21 this year, three days after his birthday.
The father of two was also said to have been deeply affected by the death of his sister six years earlier.
A neighbour heard his partner, Jo Millington, repeatedly say, “His sister did this, his sister did this,” after his body was discovered in the garden of his home in Norwich, Norfolk.
Mr Flack had also been distressed by the death of his father, Ian, who died aged 77 in November last year after being diagnosed with dementia in his early 70s.
He was reportedly worried, too, about receiving less work as a freelance graphic designer.
The inquest heard that neighbours attempted to resuscitate him after his 20-year-old daughter, Alice, found him unresponsive in the garden.
Paul Flack, who was found hanging in June aged 55, pictured with his sister, TV presenter Caroline, who died by suicide six years earlier
Paul, pictured with his sister in the months before her death in 2020
Paul and his mother Christine at Caroline’s memorial bench in a recent documentary
Paul’s final Instagram post remains a tribute to his sister
Paramedics then took over the resuscitation effort before he was transported by ambulance to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Mr Flack had 296mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, almost four times the legal limit of 80mg. His cause of death was recorded as an “out of hospital cardiac arrest” caused by hanging.
Norfolk Area Coroner Johanna Thompson recorded a narrative verdict, concluding that he had hanged himself while under the influence of alcohol. She added: “His intent in doing so is unknown.”
Mr Flack’s final Instagram post, published in 2020, paid tribute to his sister, who died aged 40 on February 15 that year after losing her Love Island presenting role amid the prospect of an assault trial.
Alongside a photograph of the pair, he wrote: “This will be my last post here. May those who know feel shame for eternity. Love you Caroline.”
Norfolk Police said at the time of Mr Flack’s death: “Officers were called by ambulance after concerns for the safety of a man in his 50s at a property in Sandringham Road.
Miss Flack was 40 when she died shortly after learning that police were proceeding with an assault case against her
Mr Flack had a history of depression and was almost four times over the drink-drive alcohol limit when he died
“He was taken by ambulance to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital but was sadly pronounced dead at 10.44pm [on June 21].
‘The death is being treated as unexplained at this time but police do not currently believe there are any suspicious circumstances.’
The East of England Ambulance Service declined to comment as the incident took place at a private address.
Mr Flack’s mother Christine, who lives in Norfolk where her children grew up, said in the Caroline Flack: Her Life and Death documentary that her ‘biggest regret’ was not speaking up during her daughter’s final months, when the family had been warned against voicing their opinions.
Christine said: ‘I think Caroline would be pleased with what I’m doing. I wish I had done it then, before she took her own life, and that’s my biggest regret, that I wasn’t shouting like this, then. But now I have nothing to lose. The worst thing in the world happened with losing Carrie.’
Caroline rose to become one of the nation’s best-known presenters, hosting The X Factor, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! spinoff shows and Love Island.
She also triumphed on Strictly Come Dancing, picked up a Bafta and took to the West End stage as Roxie Hart in Chicago.
At the time of her death, Caroline was in a relationship with former semi-professional tennis player Lewis Burton, and had been accused of assaulting him following an argument at her north London home.
She admitted to hitting Lewis with a mobile phone after seeing a message that made her believe he had been unfaithful.
When Lewis said he would call the police, Caroline became distressed and injured herself before officers from the Metropolitan Police arrived at the scene.
While the injury to Lewis’s head did not require medical treatment, she was taken to hospital, where she received care for 12 hours.
In the weeks that followed, she was charged in connection with the incident. After learning that the case would proceed despite Lewis not pressing charges, she killed herself.
No family members were at the inquest today.
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