Caroline Flack’s ‘devastated’ personal trainer and ‘close friend’ Bradley Simmonds pays tribute to star… sharing heartbreaking montage of clips with her in happier times
- If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org
Caroline Flack’s personal trainer has paid two tributes to the Love Island host, following her tragic death on Saturday age 40.
Bradley Simmonds, 25 – who was at one time thought to be dating the TV personality before they both quashed the rumours – took to Instagram on both Sunday and Monday to honour his ‘close friend’.
He posted on Sunday with a series of photos of her with Caroline – training with her, partying with her and a snap of her with his dog.
‘Heartbroken’: Caroline Flack’s personal trainer has paid two tributes to the Love Island host, following her tragic death on Saturday age 40
He captioned this: ‘Last night I was lost for words and in complete shock so it’s been super hard to post anything.
‘Caroline was incredible, she started as a client but very quickly became a very close friend, all we ever did was have banter and laugh. I guess I was her go to when she struggled at times, but she was always so brave and strong which I massively admired about her.
’I’m completely devastated. Caroline still had so much to offer, she had an incredible career. Her ambition and drive was certainly a gift but also the love and support she showed others including myself.
‘Thank you Caroline for being you, making us all laugh and supporting us when we needed it. You’re going to be missed by everyone. My thoughts are with your amazing sister jo and your family. I know how much you adored them.
Close: Bradley Simmonds, 25 – who was at one time thought to be dating the TV personality before they both quashed the rumours- took to Instagram on both Sunday and Monday to honour his ‘close friend’
Memories: He posted on Sunday with a series of photos of her with Caroline – training with her, partying with her and a snap of her with his dog
I’ll always remember the laughs we had. You’ll never be forgotten. Sweet dreams Caroline rest in peace ❤️ #sweetcaroline.’
He took to Instagram on Monday to admit the situation ‘still doesn’t feel real’.
Alongside a series of clips of Caroline training with him, he wrote: ‘Despite how upset I am I know how important this message is!
‘Caroline definitely had her low moments, We told each other pretty much everything so not only was I her PT but I was her go to for her to talk, to de stress, to switch off.
Tribute: He took to Instagram on Monday to admit the situation ‘still doesn’t feel real’, alongside a series of clips of Caroline training with him. He wrote: ‘We told each other pretty much everything so not only was I her PT but I was her go to for her to talk, to de stress, to switch off’
? Heartbroken ? Lastnight I was lost for words and in complete shock so it’s been super hard to post anything ? Caroline was incredible, she started as a client but very quickly became a very close friend, all we ever did was have banter and laugh. I guess I was her go to when she struggled at times, but she was always so brave and strong which I massively admired about her. I’m completely devastated ? Caroline still had so much to offer, she had an incredible career. Her ambition and drive was certainly a gift but also the love and support she showed others including myself. Thank you Caroline for being you, making us all laugh and supporting us when we needed it. You’re going to be missed by everyone ? My thoughts are with your amazing sister jo and your family. I know how much you adored them. I’ll always remember the laughs we had. You’ll never be forgotten. Sweet dreams Caroline rest in peace ❤️ #sweetcaroline
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‘I’m not going to lie and say Caroline loved training because she didn’t, she moaned throughout every exercise I made her complete ❤️ But she knew how important it was for her mindset, her mental health. Exercise became an important routine.
’We all know how gorgeous she was especially for a women her age which motivated and inspired so many, and that was also down to her commitment and hard work.
‘I had the honour to train her five days a week throughout 2019 which I enjoyed so much helping her get ready for her live shows and of course love island. Her career meant everything to her.
He wrote: ‘I had the honour to train her five days a week throughout 2019 which I enjoyed so much helping her get ready for her live shows and of course love island. Her career meant everything to her’
Still doesn’t feel real ? but despite how upset I am I know how important this message is! Caroline definitely had her low moments, We told each other pretty much everything so not only was I her PT but I was her go to for her to talk, to de stress, to switch off. I’m not going to lie and say Caroline loved training because she didn’t, she moaned throughout every exercise I made her complete ?❤️ But she knew how important it was for her mindset, her mental health. Exercise became an important routine. We all know how gorgeous she was especially for a women her age which motivated and inspired so many, and that was also down to her commitment and hard work ???? I had the honour to train her five days a week throughout 2019 which I enjoyed so much helping her get ready for her live shows and of course love island. Her career meant everything to her ? My message is clear and simple. If you’re struggling mentally whether it’s do with your career, your relationship, a friendship, an insecurity or just life in general then please please seek out to someone who you love and who you trust because they will do everything they can to support you and help you get through it. Exercise has massively been proven to also reduce stress, anxiety and depression levels. So please try and find a method of exercise that you enjoy even if you have to invest because it can seriously make a huge difference ❤️?? I’m thankful for having such a fun, loving and supportive client that I was proud to call my friend. She would message me after every achievement I made, whether it was shooting with GQ or going on loose women she was always the first to say well done ❤️ I’m going to do everything possible to make awareness in Caroline’s name. She was incredible and should be celebrated ?? Love you mate, going to miss you and your moaning ??? xx #mondaymotivation
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‘My message is clear and simple. If you’re struggling mentally whether it’s do with your career, your relationship, a friendship, an insecurity or just life in general then please please seek out to someone who you love and who you trust because they will do everything they can to support you and help you get through it.
‘Exercise has massively been proven to also reduce stress, anxiety and depression levels. So please try and find a method of exercise that you enjoy even if you have to invest because it can seriously make a huge difference ❤️
‘I’m thankful for having such a fun, loving and supportive client that I was proud to call my friend. She would message me after every achievement I made, whether it was shooting with GQ or going on loose women she was always the first to say well done ❤️
’I’m going to do everything possible to make awareness in Caroline’s name. She was incredible and should be celebrated. Love you mate, going to miss you and your moaning xx’
He went on: ‘I’m thankful for having such a fun, loving and supportive client that I was proud to call my friend. She would message me after every achievement I made ❤️’
Honest: ‘I’m not going to lie and say Caroline loved training because she didn’t, she moaned throughout every exercise I made her complete ❤️ But she knew how important it was for her mindset, her mental health. Exercise became an important routine,’ he posted
Caroline took her own life after a worried friend who was staying with her went to the shops, leaving the ex-Love Island presenter alone at her London flat.
It came just hours after she was told she would face trial for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton, something she denied.
Her management have slammed the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for pursuing the ‘show trial’ after Lewis said he did not want to press charges.
He had said she hit him with a lamp at her former home in Islington in December before asking the CPS not to press charges.
Tragic: Caroline took her own life after a worried friend who was staying with her went to the shops, leaving the ex-Love Island presenter alone at her London flat
Caroline had been described by friends as feeling ‘she was on her own’ and ‘couldn’t see a way out,’ according to The Mirror.
It was also understood she had been struggling with her mental health and using anti-depressants before her death.
The TV presenter’s death was confirmed by a lawyer for the family. The Flack family said in a statement: ‘We can confirm that our Caroline passed away today on the 15th February. We would ask that the press respect the privacy of the family at this difficult time.’
A worried producer friend had been staying with the star but found she couldn’t get back into her flat after returning from the shops, a source said. She called Caroline’s father Ian who gained entry to the flat where he found the star’s body.
Worrying: Caroline had been described by friends as feeling ‘she was on her own’ and ‘couldn’t see a way out’
Love Island also released a statement, they said: ‘Everybody at Love Island and ITV is shocked and saddened by this desperately sad news.
‘Caroline was a much loved member of the Love Island team and our sincere thoughts and condolences are with her family and friends.’
Following Caroline’s death, many fans have taken to social media to demand that Love Island be axed, after she became the third person associated with the show to take their own life.
Former contestants Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon, took their own lives in March 2019 and June 2018.
Among fans calling the show out was This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes who paid tribute to Caroline while insisting there needs to be ‘repercussions.’
Culmination: It was also understood she had been struggling with her mental health and using anti-depressants before her death
He wrote on Twitter: ‘Caroline Flack …. Dear God. Shocked beyond belief. May she have found peace. #Rip Has to be repercussions for Love Island now surely?’ which garnered more than 27K likes.
Eamonn later added: ‘Meaning out of respect, can the series continue?’ (sic)
A CPS spokesperson issued a statement, they said: ‘Our deepest sympathies go to the family and friends of Caroline Flack.
‘Given the tragic circumstances, we will not comment on the specifics of this case at this stage.’
If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org.
CAROLINE FLACK: A CALL FOR HELP?
Caroline Flack spoke often about her struggles, both in interviews and on social media.
Caroline said, following her Strictly success: ‘Fame doesn’t make you happy’
STRICTLY CURSE?
The Strictly Come Dancing 2014 winner has said that she felt depressed following her victory on the BBC show.
After she won the series along with professional partner Pasha Kovalev, she admitted that she felt like she was ‘being held together by a piece of string which could snap at any time’.
In an unearthed interview cited by the Daily Star following her death, Caroline claimed that, ‘It all started the day after I won Strictly. I woke up and felt like somebody had covered my body in clingfilm. I couldn’t get up and just couldn’t pick myself up at all that next year.’
She went on: ‘People see the celebrity lifestyle and assume everything is perfect, but we’re just like everyone else. Everyone is battling something emotional behind closed doors – that’s life.
Ignored? ‘When I actually reached out to someone they said I was draining,’ Caroline admitted in October 2019
‘Fame doesn’t make you happy.’
‘BEING A BURDEN IS MY BIGGEST FEAR’
In an Instagram post she uploaded on 14 October 2019 – to mark World Mental Health Day – Caroline captioned a photo of herself: ‘Some days it’s hard to write your feelings of your not in the right place.
‘The last few weeks I’ve been in a really weird place… I find it hard to talk about it… I guess it’s anxiety and pressure of life… and when I actually reached out to someone they said I was draining.
‘I feel like this is why some people keep their emotions to themselves. I certainly hate talking about my feelings. And being a burden is my biggest fear…
‘I’m lucky to be able to pick myself up when things feel s**t. But what happens if someone can’t. Be nice to people. You never know what’s going on. Ever.’ [sic]
SOCIAL SILENCE
Signs of suicide? She liked tweets about calling The Samaritans over Christmas
Caroline was told to stay off social media following her assault charge in December 2019.
However, she notably liked a string of tweets in the days afterwards, before Christmas, encouraging those feeling lonely over the holidays to seek help.
The tweets – posted by the likes of actress Sheridan Smith, journalist Stacey Dooley and comedian Luke Kempner – included the telephone number for The Samaritans’ suicide hotline.
She also posted to Instagram around the same time: ‘This kind of scrutiny and speculation is a lot to take on for one person to take on their own… I’m a human being at the end of the day and I’m not going to be silenced when I have a story to tell and a life to keep going with…
‘I’m taking some time out to get feeling better and learn some lessons from situations I’ve got myself into to. I have nothing but love to give and best wishes for everyone.’
SELF-HELP?
It was reported that Caroline had decided to write a book, during her recent time off.
‘Caroline has found the process incredibly cathartic,’ one of her friends told the Mail. ‘She wants it to be more than just a story about her. She wants to talk about the problems she’s encountered and how she’s overcome them.
‘She hopes to be able to help others who may be going through similar difficulties. Part self-help, part memoir is the style that Caroline is looking for.’
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