The family of Caroline Flack has suffered another devastating loss. Paul Flack, the older brother of the late Love Island presenter, has died at the age of 55. His death comes exactly six years after Caroline took her own life in February 2020.
Paul was found unresponsive at his home in Norwich on June 21, 2026. Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. A provisional post-mortem ruled his cause of death as cardiac arrest due to hanging. An inquest into his death was opened on June 29 at Norfolk Coroner’s Court, with a full hearing scheduled for October 23.
Paul had posted a heartbreaking tribute to his sister on Instagram following her death. He shared a childhood photo of Caroline with the caption: “This will be my last post here. May those who know feel shame for eternity. Love you Caroline.” He is survived by his partner and their two children.
Caroline Flack was one of Britain’s most recognized television personalities. She hosted Love Island from 2015 to 2019 and won Strictly Come Dancing in 2014. Her death at age 40 shocked the nation and sparked conversations about mental health, social media abuse, and the treatment of celebrities in the public eye.
The Lewis Burton Incident and Assault Charges
The tragedy began in December 2019 when Caroline was arrested for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend, Lewis Burton. The couple had been dating for six months after meeting through mutual friends.
On the night of December 12, Caroline discovered messages from another woman on Lewis’s phone. An argument broke out at her London flat. Caroline tried to wake Lewis to confront him, and in the process, hit him with her phone. Lewis called 999, telling operators she was “trying to kill him.”
Police arrived to find both covered in blood. The blood belonged to Caroline, who had self-harmed during the argument. She spent 12 hours in the hospital receiving treatment for injuries to her arms and required plastic surgery. Lewis Burton did not need medical treatment for his minor head injury.
Lewis initially told police Caroline had hit him with a lamp. However, he later clarified on social media: “She did not hit me with a lamp. This blood isn’t mine and I didn’t get hit over the head with a lamp, can everyone stop now.” He maintained he never pressed charges against her.
The CPS Decision to Prosecute
The Crown Prosecution Service initially recommended Caroline receive a caution. However, the Metropolitan Police appealed this decision, arguing a prosecution was in the public interest. A legal manager reviewed the case and concluded the initial decision was wrong, authorizing charges instead.
Caroline was charged with assault by beating and appeared at Highbury Magistrates’ Court on December 23, 2019. She pleaded not guilty and was released on bail with the condition she not contact Lewis. She stepped down from hosting Love Island following the charges.
The decision to prosecute despite Lewis not supporting the case was made under “victimless prosecution” guidelines. The CPS stated this process is used when authorities believe dropping charges could put a victim at risk, even when they no longer support the case.
Caroline’s mother, Christine Flack, obtained police and CPS documents through extensive efforts. They showed the case was pushed forward despite the injury being described as “minor” and not requiring medical treatment. The original CPS memo noted: “There is no domestic violence history between the parties. The suspect has no previous convictions.”
A detective who overheard the case being discussed allegedly pushed for charges. She wrote in an email: “[Flack] has caused a significant injury. As such, this is not a minor offence.” Former chief prosecutor Nazir Afzal later said the decision to prosecute “made no sense” and called it “saving face.”
Caroline’s Final Days
The night before her magistrates’ court hearing, Caroline took an overdose at The Ned hotel in London. Her friend Mollie Grosberg found her and forced her to vomit up the pills. Caroline had struggled with mental health issues from a young age, with her mother revealing she had attempted suicide multiple times before.
On February 14, 2020, Caroline learned the CPS would continue pursuing the case against her. She feared bodycam footage from the night of her arrest would be released, showing her in a mental health crisis rather than clear evidence of domestic abuse. She told friends she could not face the public scrutiny of a trial.
Caroline was found dead in her flat on February 15, 2020. She left a note reading: “Please let this court case be dropped, and myself and Lewis find harmony.” An inquest later ruled she took her own life after learning of the prosecution and fearing the media scrutiny that would accompany it.
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Where Lewis Burton Is Now
Lewis Burton has moved on with his life. He is now engaged to Lottie Tomlinson, sister of One Direction star Louis Tomlinson. They met in August 2020, six months after Caroline’s death. The couple has two children together, a son named Lucky born in 2022 and a daughter named Flossie born in January 2025.
Lewis declined to participate in the 2025 Disney+ documentary Caroline Flack: Search for the Truth. Producer Sophie Clayton-Payne said: “We approached him right from the beginning… He declined the offer. It’s really important to remember that everyone grieves differently. Lewis has never spoken about this publicly.”
Caroline’s mother Christine said of Lewis: “[He’s] gone on to have his life now, he’s got another life. So I don’t think anyone had to be dragged back into this film. That’s not what it was about.”
The Family’s Continued Grief
The Flack family has continued to seek justice for Caroline. They appeared in the 2021 documentary Caroline Flack: Her Life and Death to honor her memory. The family has maintained that Caroline was unfairly targeted due to her celebrity status.
Christine Flack stated: “I just hope I can achieve something… I think Caroline would be pleased with what I’m doing. I wish I’d done it then, before she took her own life, and that’s my biggest regret, that I wasn’t shouting like this then, but now I’ve got nothing to lose.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, please reach out to local support services or helplines.
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