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Caroline Flack left a note to her boyfriend on day of her tragic death
This is heartbreaking…
The inquest into Caroline Flack’s death has resumed today, six months after she sadly took her own life, and it has been revealed she left a handwritten note to her boyfriend.
The host of the popular ITV show, Love Island, Caroline Flack died back in February.
The hearing is continuing at Poplar Coroner’s Court in London before Senior Coroner Mary Hassell, with Caroline’s mother Christine and sister Jody watching the proceedings via Zoom.
The Crown Prosecution Service lawyers, Metropolitan Police and London Ambulance Service also watching the proceedings online, the Mirror reports.
Caroline’s friends’ father, Stephen Teasdale, was the first witness statement to be given remotely. He was sent to the scene when Caroline’s sister phoned her friend Louise to say she couldn’t get into her address.
He said: “We came to the flat and tried to force entry. We thought about phoning the police but knew the landlady … We got the key and let ourselves into the flat.”
He added: “…Jody started CPR. We were giving CPR for somewhere between five and ten minutes, then the police took over.”
Paramedic David O’Toole said he entered the property later and found two women ‘looking extremely distressed’ on the sofa.
He said the victim had been dead for a number of hours and the women had last seen her alive at 10:30am that day.
One of the crew pointed out a handwritten note placed on an open magazine on the coffee table with ‘Lewis’ written on the front.
The note stated: “I hope one day me and Lewis can find harmony.”
The court explained that no alcohol was found in Caroline’s system, but she had been taking drugs to treat insomnia. A post mortem found no signs of assault to her body and the drugs to be of non-lethal levels.
A psychiatrist who treated Caroline, Dr Tamsin Lewis, presented a witness statement to court.
She explained she was contacted by Caroline’s assistant on December 17th 2019 after the row with Lewis Burton that led to her arrest.
Dr Lewis explained that Caroline was ‘incredibly distressed’ in the middle of a ‘media crisis’ and ‘could not sleep’.
She added that Caroline said it was nothing more than a ‘lover’s tiff’ but was concerned about the ‘media storm’.
Dr Lewis added that Caroline did not admit to suicidal thoughts, but did admit to excessive drinking to ‘numb herself’. Dr Lewis prescribed sleeping tablets and antibiotics to treat Caroline’s finger injury she gained in the fight with her boyfriend.
In her boyfriend’s witness statement, he said: “The last time he saw Caroline she was very upset, in fact devastated, she was not in a good place emotionally…
“What was worrying her most was the police case and losing her presenting job on Love Island, plus not being able to see me.”
Caroline Flack, 40, took her life at her flat in Stoke Newington in north-east London on February 15th, days after learning her trial over an alleged attack on boyfriend Lewis Burton was going ahead.
Caroline pleaded not guilty and her boyfriend maintained her innocence – her family slammed prosecutors for pursuing the case, calling it a ‘show trial’.
In an unpublished Instagram post, released by Caroline’s family, she stepped down from hosting Love Island saying her ‘whole world and future was swept from under my feet’ after her arrest.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Crown Prosecution Service said in a statement: “Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Caroline Flack
“It is normal practice for prosecutors to hold a debriefing in complex or sensitive cases after they have ended.
“This has taken place and found that the case was handled appropriately and in line with our published legal guidance.”
If you are struggling, you can contact the Samaritans free helpline on 116 123 or find out more here.
A boy has been left in critical condition in hospital following an incident with a police van last night.
The 11-year-old was struck by a police van in Lancaster on Thursday night, May 25th, as the van was attending a call.
Lancashire Police say the vehicle was en route to an emergency call when the collision happened.
The boy was crossing Owen Road just before 8:30 pm when he was hit, and was transported to Royal Lancaster Infirmary in a critical condition.
A police spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with the child’s loved ones at this time.
“An investigation is underway to establish the full circumstances that led to the collision.
“We have voluntarily referred this matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), as is standard with an incident of this nature.”
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The IOPC said in a statement: “We have declared an independent investigation into the actions of Lancashire Police prior to a road traffic collision in Owen Road, Lancaster at around 8.30pm tonight, in which a child has been injured.
“We understand that a marked police van, with its lights and sirens on, was in a collision with an 11-year-old boy.
“We were notified by the force shortly after the collision and declared an investigation at 10.37pm. IOPC investigators are heading to the scene and the police post incident procedure to begin gathering information.”
According to the IOPC, the investigation is in its early stages.
News
Sam Smith cancels upcoming shows due to ‘vocal cord injury’ and tells fans ‘I’m so sorry’
‘Refunds will be available at point of purchase for all three dates; Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow’
Sam Smith has cancelled their upcoming shows due to a vocal cord injury and issued a statement telling fans, ‘I’m so sorry’.
The singer had to call off their Gloria Tour show, mid-way through, at Manchester AO Arena last night (Wednesday May 24th) after experiencing ‘vocal issues’.
The lights went off and fans waited in darkness for a number of minutes as speculation circulated on social media, with many wondering if there had been a ‘power cut’.
Moments later, after just four songs, a packed-out arena was told the show unfortunately had to be called off.
Afterwards, Sam, 31, issued a statement on their Instagram stories to tell fans — who had missed out on a ‘surprise’ that was supposed to be at the end of the show — how ‘sorry’ they were.
Today, Thursday May 25th, the ‘Unholy’ singer has issued another statement after calling off upcoming gigs.
On their Instagram stories, the star wrote: “Due to vocal issues during last night’s Manchester performance, regrettably we will be cancelling the rescheduled Birmingham and Glasgow Sam Smith shows.
“Refunds will be available at point of purchase for all three dates; Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow.
“A spokesperson said ‘Doctors have advised due to a vocal cord injury, Sam must have complete vocal rest’.
“Sam is heartbroken to have had to cancel these shows but they have been told by doctors that if they keep singing, they will do permanent damage to their voice.
“If they take some rest they will be able to perform again. I’m so sorry.”
Sam already had to push back the Birmingham and Glasgow gigs after suffering from a virus several weeks ago.
After calling off last night’s show at Manchester’s AO Arena, Sam wrote on their Instagram story: “Today in soundcheck I felt fine and was so excited to give Manchester an amazing show tonight, with a special surprise at the end.
“During my third song, I noticed something wrong with my voice. I prayed it was just my voice waking up for the show but into the fourth song I could feel something was really wrong.”
The pop singer added: “I came off stage and have tried everything to get my voice back in gear but it won’t.
“I am honestly heartbroken I couldn’t finish the show tonight for you all. I love you all. I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry.”
News
Body found in river in search for missing 24-year-old woman
Shannon’s family have been informed
A body has been found in a river in the search for a missing woman from Lancashire.
Police searching for Shannon Canning from Lancaster say they have found a body. The 24-year-old had been missing from home since the early hours of Friday May 19th.
A search operation was launched to find the young woman who did not turn up for work at Tipple bar on Friday afternoon.
Public appeals for help were launched by her family and the police force, who said they were concerned for her welfare as the disappearance was out of character.
Lancashire Police have confirmed the body of a woman was found in the River Lune near Halton on Wednesday afternoon, May 24th. Shannon’s family has been informed.
Patrols were increased during the week and specialist divers joined the search yesterday. Officers were called at around 4.20pm Wednesday afternoon when the discovery was made.
A statement from Lancashire Police said: “Sadly, officers searching for missing Shannon Canning have an update, following a body recovered from the River Lune.
“We can confirm that we were called today (May 24th) at around 4:20pm to a report that a body had been found in the River Lune, near Halton.
“Specialist search teams have subsequently attended the area and can sadly confirm that the body of a woman has been recovered.
“Although formal identification has yet to take place, we believe the body to be that of missing Shannon Canning.
“Shannon’s family have been made aware of this sad development and our thoughts are with them at this upsetting time.”
Boy, 11, left in critical condition after being hit by police van
The Champions League final is being shown at Manchester’s biggest fan park
Piers Morgan and TikToker who went in stranger’s homes get into heated argument live on air
Sam Smith cancels upcoming shows due to ‘vocal cord injury’ and tells fans ‘I’m so sorry’
Body found in river in search for missing 24-year-old woman
