Love Island’s Iain Stirling has paid a touching tribute to his friend Carolie Flack, after the news she had taken her own life aged just 40.
Iain – who narrates the hit dating show – posted a dedication on his Twitter account alongside a video of Caroline performing a routine to Robbie Williams’ Angels on Strictly Come Dancing.
The TV presenter would go on to win her respective series with Pasha Kovalev in 2014.
‘Today my friend slow motion walked into heaven,’ the comic wrote. ‘I will miss her always. Thank you for everything.’
Girlfriend Laura Whitmore, who had taken over from Caroline on the show’s first winter edition, took to Twitter to share her sorrow, writing: ‘I’m trying to find the words but I can’t’.
She shared a photo of the pair of them together, as well as a touching poem about the Love Island host’s death.
Today my friend slow motion walked into heaven. I will miss her always. Thank you for everything x
pic.twitter.com/gykAn9YE3U— Iain Stirling (@IainDoesJokes) February 15, 2020
The poem read: ‘To lose someone so special is really hard to bear, it hardly seems believable that you’re no longer there.
‘You left us far too early, before your time it seems, and now you’ll never have the chance to fulfill all those dreams.
‘However hard it is though, we’ll take comfort in the thought, of all the memories we have and the happiness you brought.
‘You always lived life to the full but ours won’t be the same, until the day when we can see your smiling face again.’
Caroline’s family said in a statement: ‘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.’
Former Love Island stars, her many celebrity friends and fans paid tribute on social media.
Among them was Piers Morgan, who also posted a heartfelt message about Caroline. He wrote: ‘Caroline was a fun, bright & sparky person whose whole world collapsed recently, both professionally & personally.
‘She told me it had been the worst time of her life, and was clearly struggling to cope with losing everything she held dear. This is such sad, awful news.’
Caroline had stepped down from presenting Love Island’s winter edition after she was arrested for assault following a row with her boyfriend, Lewis Burton.
Her last appearance in court was in December, where she pleaded not guilty to assault. She was on bail and awaiting trial to begin on 4 March.
MORE: Calls for Love Island to be axed ‘like Jeremy Kyle’ after Caroline Flack’s death
