Caroline Flack’s brother Paul ‘never recovered’ from her death and took his own life

Caroline Flack’s brother Paul ‘never recovered’ from her death and took his own life Paul Flack, 55, had experienced 'low mood in recent years after various life events', including the death of his father and sister Caroline Flack, an inquest heard The brother of the late TV presenter Caroline Flack did not "really recover" from her death in 2020 and took his own life while under the influence of alcohol, an inquest has heard. Paul Flack had experienced "low mood in recent years after various life events", including the death of his father last year, Norfolk area coroner Johanna Thompson said. The 55-year-old was found unresponsive in the garden of his home in Norwich on Father's Day on June 21. He was taken to hospital by ambulance but was pronounced dead the same evening, the hearing in Norwich was told on Thursday. Mr Flack's partner of 32 years, Joanna Millington, told the inquest that his sister Caroline had taken her own life and "I don't think Paul really recovered from this". Former Love Island and X Factor host Caroline Flack, 40, was found unresponsive at her home in Stoke Newington, north-east London, on February 15, 2020. A coroner concluded at an inquest in 2020 she died by suicide, and that she took her own life after discovering she was definitely going to be prosecuted for assaulting her boyfriend and feared press intrusion. Ms Millington, who had two children aged 23 and 20 with Mr Flack, said he had been a self-employed graphic designer but the industry had declined and "I believe this may have contributed to his sadness as this was all he had done". Mr Flack's father Ian died in November 2025 aged 77 after a dementia diagnosis in his early 70s, she added. She said she had "tried to encourage Paul to seek counselling". Ms Millington said in the week leading up to his death, he "did drink more than usual, however this was a lovely week we had spent together". She said on the day of his death, they spent time together and in the evening she had watched a film indoors with one of her children while Mr Flack stayed in the garden and drank beer. She said Mr Flack was "incredibly loved and I;m going to miss him". In a statement, neighbour Olive Merrill said she remembered hearing Mr Flack, his daughter and one of their children in the garden on the afternoon of June 21. She said at around 10.30pm she heard a "shrieking" and "thought it sounded like Jo". She said: "I called out 'do you need help'. "I heard a female voice saying 'it's Paul, I don't know what to do'." Ms Merrill said she dialled 999. She said: "Jo kept saying 'his sister did his, his sister did this'." She said Ms Millington said they "went inside to watch a film and he stayed in the garden having a beer". Ms Merrill continued: "Jo then said words to the effect 'he's been in a bad mood all day, he's been off all day", his father died and it had been Father's Day'." The coroner said police and paramedics attended and Mr Flack was found unresponsive. She said the ambulance service recorded that he was taken to hospital at 11.28pm and handed over to accident and emergency staff, but he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards. Dr Tarek Ahmed, a consultant in emergency medicine, said in a statement that Mr Flack's bloods were taken and it was recorded that he had 296 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood - around four times the drink-drive limit of 80 milligrammes of alcohol in England. No family members were present at Thursday's inquest hearing. The coroner said Mr Flack's family were "aware of the evidence that's being read and are content for this to be read in their absence". She gave Mr Flack's medical cause of death as out of hospital cardiac arrest, with hanging as a contributary cause. The coroner said: "The court heard there was no significant medical history recorded for Paul. It was noted he had low mood in recent years after various life events." In a narrative conclusion, she said Mr Flack took his own life "while under the influence of alcohol – his intention in doing so is unknown". For mental health support, contact the Samaritans on 116 123, email them at [email protected] or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.