CAROLINE’S death brings further devastation to Love Island as the third suicide to hit the show in 20 months.
Bosses brought in round-the-clock counselling and more aftercare following tragedies involving contestants Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis.
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Questions linger over whether those moves were enough, and if the winter series final next Sunday will be axed.
Caroline’s court case saw her quit as its host and be replaced by her friend Laura Whitmore, 34.
Producers suggested the door was always open for Caroline to return.
Just last month commissioning editor Amanda Stavri said: “We are in constant contact and the door is open.”
But a source close to Caroline said: “She went from hosting one of the most popular shows on TV to being effectively cast out.
“It was crushing.
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“ITV talk about duty of care but there was little to no support for her.
“Whatever she said publicly, she told those close to her that she had in effect been sacked.
“She hadn’t been found guilty of anything and didn’t deserve to have her career ripped from her the way that she felt it had been.
“She left the country because she couldn’t bear to hear people talking about Love Island, as she knew they would once it began.
“She was struggling to work out her next step.
“But none of her friends ever imagined she would harm herself.”
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YOU’RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others.
You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
‘WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU’
Model Sophie, 32, a former Miss Newcastle, starred in the 2016 series but took her own life on June 20, 2018.
Boyfriend Aaron Armstrong, who discovered her body, also committed suicide just 20 days later.
Sophie had described her battle with anxiety and depression in a series of social media posts.
And she admitted struggling to deal with the fame, saying: “There would be so many negative comments — on the way you look and talk.
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“People would come up with an opinion of you on a TV show where they’ve watched you for 45 minutes.”
Caroline said at the time: “Tragically this week we lost a beautiful soul in Sophie Gradon.
“She was a gorgeous person both inside and out . . . We will never forget you.”
Semi-pro footballer Mike, 26, who appeared in the 2017 series, was found hanged in a London park last March.
He left a notepad with messages to his family and friends.
Caroline tweeted: “Mike you were a total gentleman. I won’t forget that. It’s so sad.”
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Last May, Love Island released updated guidelines setting out its duty of care — including therapy sessions, social media and financial training and 14 months of contact after a series.
More counsellors were also brought on to the show.
A statement concluded: “Conversations about mental health have never been more important.”
ITV chief Carolyn McCall was drawn into the debate but insisted the channel could not look after former stars “indefinitely”.
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STARS ARE STRUGGLING
Other contestants have spoken out about the show’s pitfalls since Sophie and Mike’s deaths.
Dani Dyer, the 2018 winner, said stars had experienced moments when they had been struggling.
Last March we revealed that 38 people had taken their lives after appearing on reality shows globally.
Caroline’s boyfriend, tennis star Lewis Burton, 27, had called police over an alleged bloody bust-up in December.
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He later said he did not support the prosecution, with the pair even remaining in a relationship.
The Crown Prosecution Service pressed on, insisting that Lewis was still “a victim not a witness”.
Rhys Rosser, a barrister specialising in criminal law, claimed that if Caroline was an “ordinary person” then charges may have been dropped.
Writing on website Legal Cheek before news of her death broke, he said: “If this were a normal case and Flack was an ‘ordinary’ member of the public, this would be a two-hour trial in which the CPS would begrudgingly offer no evidence at 10.30am on the day.”
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But he also added it was the CPS’s decision — not the alleged victim’s — to press charges.
And he said prosecutors and police could have arranged to have Lewis arrested if he had failed to attend the trial as a witness.
Singer Boy George last night hit out at the CPS.
He said: “I hope all of you who attacked Caroline Flack even when her partner said he wanted no charges feel some sorrow today.
“This did not need to happen. This is devastating news!
“And yes, I hope the Crown Prosecution Service feel even deeper sorrow.”
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