Caroline Flack’s boyfriend Lewis Burton has posted a tribute to his girlfriend following her tragic death on Saturday.
The Love Island host, 40, died by suicide on Saturday, 18 days before she was due to face trial after being charged with assault following a row with her boyfriend. She had denied the charge.
A lawyer for Flack confirmed that the star took her own life.
‘My heart is broken we had something so special,’ her 27-year-old boyfriend wrote this morning on social media. ‘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.’
He 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.’
Alongside his message he shared a sweet photo of the pair on holiday, with Caroline wrapping her arms around the tennis player.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8nqjfWBwjA/?igshid=jp5kfuz73xac
Lewis has been openly supportive of Caroline ever since she was arrested on suspicion of assault back in December 2019, often sharing pictures of her on his Instagram.
Model and tennis player Lewis became Caroline’s Instagram official boyfriend back in August last year and after her arrest, Lewis came out in support of her, as he wrote in his Instagram stories: ‘I’m tired of the lies and abuse aimed at my girlfriend. This is not a witch hunt this is someone’s life.’
Caroline had been banned from speaking to the model by court order, but despite this he continued to post loved up snaps of the pair and repeatedly denied claims the pair had split.
In the preliminary hearing, Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court heard a 999 call in which Burton allegedly said: ‘She tried to kill me, mate.’
But the court also heard that Burton would not be supporting the prosecution at trial, and in a statement following the court adjourning he again professed his love for her.
With plans to reunite once the court case in March was done, he posted another photo of them together on Friday for Valentine’s Day, telling her he loved her.
Caroline also mentioned her beau in her statement announcing that she was quitting Love Island.
She said: ‘And on a really personal level. I have never experienced such kindness and love in my whole life. Not just from friends and family who are always the greatest.
‘But also from total strangers who send messages to me offering to help and understanding…
‘Please know that I see them… And my boyfriend Lewis… I love you x.’
Confirming Caroline’s death, a family spokesperson said on Saturday: ‘We can confirm that our Caroline passed away today on the 15th February.
‘We would ask that the press both respect the privacy of the family at this difficult time.’
The TMi star had been the face of Love Island since the rebooted series began in 2015, before stepping down last year following her assault charge.
Love Island and ITV shared a statement paying tribute, saying: ‘Everybody at Love Island and ITV are 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.’
Recently the presenter had broken her social media silence to declare her life is ‘no longer up for gossip’ and said she would be speaking out.
Writing on her Instagram story, she said: ‘I’m going to speak today… mine and my families life is no longer up for entertainment and gossip [sic].’
The Strictly Come Dancing star has spoken in the past about her mental health, sharing a poignant message on Instagram after World Mental Health Day 2019.
She explained that she had been finding it hard to speak about her mental health and put it down to ‘anxiety and pressure of life’.
The star’s friends have continued to pay tribute, with her X Factor co-host Olly Murs sharing a poignant message to Caroline on Sunday morning.
Stepping back from hosting Love Island in the wake of the case, Laura Whitmore took Caroline’s place for the winter season.
But there were reports the star was planning to reinvent herself, with her return to Love Island still a possibility.
Caroline continued to send her support to the team ahead of the NTAs in January, wishing them luck as they went up for best reality show.
Just last week, she posted a sweet picture cosied up to her beloved pet dog.
