Caroline Flack's family have released an unpublished Instagram post that she wrote before her death, in which she said that within 24 hours her whole world and future had been swept from under her feet.

The 40-year-old former Love Island host, who took her own life, described the domestic incident with boyfriend Lewis Burton as “an accident”.

“On December the 12th 2019 I was arrested for common assault on my boyfriend,” she wrote. “Within 24 hours my whole world and future was swept from under my feet and all the walls that I had taken so long to build around me, collapsed.

“I am suddenly on a different kind of stage and everyone is watching it happen.

“I have always taken responsibility for what happened that night. Even on the night. But the truth is ... It was an accident."

Flack continued: "I've been having some sort of emotional breakdown for a very long time.

"But I am NOT a domestic abuser. We had an argument and an accident happened. An accident."

The presenter added that the reason she decided to write the message was because her family couldn't "take anymore".

"I've lost my job. My home. My ability to speak. And the truth has been taken out of my hands and used as entertainment," Flack said.

"I can't spend every day hidden away being told not to say or speak to anyone."

Flack's mother, Chris Flack, shared the message in her local paper, the Eastern Daily Press, in Norfolk where Flack grew up.

She said her daughter was advised not to share the post on social media, but that her family wanted "people to read it”.

“It was describing how she was feeling and what she had gone through, no more than that,” Flack's mother said. “It was not blaming anyone or pointing any fingers.”

She added that Flack, who she refers to as Carrie, sent it to her “at the end of January but was told not to post it by advisers”.

In the post, Flack continued: “For a lot of people, being arrested for common assault is an extreme way to have some sort of spiritual awakening but for me it's become the normal.

“I've been pressing the snooze button on many stresses in my life - for my whole life.

“I've accepted shame and toxic opinions on my life for over 10 years and yet told myself it's all part of my job."

The presenter added that the problem with "brushing things under the carpet" was that the issues were still there. 

"One day someone is going to lift that carpet up and all you are going to feel is shame and embarrassment," Flack wrote.

An inquest into Flack's death opened on Wednesday morning, four days after the television presenter was found dead at her home in east London.

Coroner's officer Sandra Polson told Poplar Coroner's Court that Flack was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Flack's death, confirmed on Saturday evening, was the latest connected to ITV2's Love Island.

The 40-year-old stepped down from presenting the current winter series after the alleged assault on Mr Burton and was released on bail after pleading not guilty at a court hearing in December.

However, Flack was ordered to stop having any contact with Mr Burton ahead of a trial, which had been due to begin in March.

The dating show did not air on Saturday or Sunday as a mark of respect to her family and returned on Monday with a tribute to Flack, who started hosting the programme in 2015.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, The Samaritans offers support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. 

For services local to you, the national mental health database – Hub of Hope – allows you to enter your postcode to search for organisations and charities who offer mental health advice and support in your area.

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