Norwich — Caroline Flack's Brother Never Recovered, Inquest Hears

Paul Flack, the older brother of television presenter Caroline Flack, took his own life after never recovering from his sister's death in 2020, Norfolk Coroner's Court in Norwich, England, heard this week.

What did the inquest conclude about Paul Flack's death?

Area Coroner Johanna Thompson recorded a narrative conclusion, finding that Paul Flack, 55, died while under the influence of alcohol and that his "intent in doing so is unknown," according to BBC News. He was found unresponsive at his home on Sandringham Road in Norwich on June 21 and died later that night at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. No family members attended the hearing.

How did Caroline Flack's death affect her brother, according to his partner?

Joanna Millington, Paul Flack's partner of 32 years, told the court in a written statement that he never recovered after his younger sister was found dead at her home in Stoke Newington, east London, on February 15, 2020. "I do not think Paul ever recovered from this," Millington said, according to the BBC. An earlier inquest found Caroline Flack, the former Love Island and X Factor host, took her own life at 40 after fearing press intrusion ahead of a trial in which she was accused of assaulting her boyfriend. Millington said the toll of his sister's death, compounded by the Covid-19 lockdown that followed weeks later, never fully lifted. She described her partner as "everyone's favourite person" but said the loss "took its toll."

What other pressures did Paul Flack face before he died?

The inquest heard Paul Flack sought help for low mood from his GP in August 2020 but did not attend follow-up appointments or counseling. A self-employed graphic designer, he also struggled to find work as his industry declined, which Millington said "contributed to his sadness." His father, Ian, developed dementia in his early 70s and died earlier this year, adding further strain. Millington told the court there was "no suggestion he would ever harm himself" and that he had said he never would.

What happened on the day Paul Flack died?

The inquest heard that June 21 was Father's Day, and Paul Flack had been in a "bad mood all day," which Millington told a neighbor may have been linked to marking the occasion so soon after his father's death. That evening his daughter offered him tea and cake; he declined, went to a shop for four beers, and spent the night in the garden listening to music while his partner and daughter watched a film indoors. Around 10:20 p.m., his daughter found he was no longer in the hammock outside and discovered him unresponsive. A neighbor attempted CPR while another called an ambulance.

Key figures from the inquest

• Paul Flack's blood alcohol level was four times the legal limit to drive, a toxicology report found, per the BBC.
• His sister Caroline Flack died at 40 in February 2020; he was 55 at the time of his death.

What to watch

• Whether Norfolk Coroner's Court issues any formal findings on mental health service access following the hearing.
• Continued public discussion of press intrusion in the wake of Caroline Flack's 2020 inquest.
• Any statement from the Flack family following the conclusion of proceedings.