Joe Swash is supported by Alex Murphy after death of close friend Caroline Flack


Joe Swash offered condolences to the family of Caroline Flack on Sunday evening after performing in the latest episode of Dancing On Ice. 

Caroline, 40, was found dead inside her London home by her father Ian on Saturday after taking her own life while the friend who was staying with her ‘popped out to the shops’. 

And Joe, who shared a close friendship with the former Love Island presenter, was visibly distraught as he addressed hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, admitting it had been a ‘tough day’.

Devastated: Joe Swash offered condolences to the family of Caroline Flack on Sunday evening after performing in the latest episode of Dancing On Ice

Devastated: Joe Swash offered condolences to the family of Caroline Flack on Sunday evening after performing in the latest episode of Dancing On Ice

Moments earlier the star had skated to Robbie Williams’ hit Candy, and professional skating partner Alex Murphy revealed their routine’s uplifting tone made Joe’s appearance on Sunday even more difficult as he struggled to process the news of Caroline’s death.  

‘This was really hard to get through and do a happy number when he feels the way that he feels, so I’m so proud of him,’ she said.

Addressing Joe, Schofield added: We’ve got to point out to everyone that you were very, very close to Caroline. It’s been an amazingly tough day and she’d be so proud of you.’

‘I just want to send my love to her family and friends,’ Joe said as the studio audience broke into applause. 

Tragic: Caroline, 40, was found dead inside her London home by her father Ian on Saturday after taking her own life while the friend who was staying with her 'popped out to the shops'

Tragic: Caroline, 40, was found dead inside her London home by her father Ian on Saturday after taking her own life while the friend who was staying with her 'popped out to the shops'

Tragic: Caroline, 40, was found dead inside her London home by her father Ian on Saturday after taking her own life while the friend who was staying with her ‘popped out to the shops’

Moving: Joe, who shared a close friendship with the former Love Island presenter, was visibly distraught as he addressed hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby

Moving: Joe, who shared a close friendship with the former Love Island presenter, was visibly distraught as he addressed hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby

Moving: Joe, who shared a close friendship with the former Love Island presenter, was visibly distraught as he addressed hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby

We did it: Professional skating partner Alex Murphy revealed their routine's uplifting tone made Joe's appearance on Sunday even more difficult

We did it: Professional skating partner Alex Murphy revealed their routine's uplifting tone made Joe's appearance on Sunday even more difficult

We did it: Professional skating partner Alex Murphy revealed their routine’s uplifting tone made Joe’s appearance on Sunday even more difficult

Taking to Instagram on Saturday evening Joe fought back tears as he revealed his sadness that she didn’t reach out for help.   

Speaking into the camera, a clearly devastated Joe said: ‘I want to send a message to everyone and let everyone know that Caroline Flack was the most amazing person you could ever come across.

‘She was funny, super talented, and she had the most infectious laugh.’ 

Struggling to contain his emotions, he continued: ‘I wish that she could have asked for help because there’s so many people that love her and I am going to miss her so much.

‘We can’t let this happen, we can’t let this happen to anyone else.’

Supportive: 'This was really hard to get through and do a happy number when he feels the way that he feels, so I’m so proud of him,' she said

Supportive: 'This was really hard to get through and do a happy number when he feels the way that he feels, so I’m so proud of him,' she said

Supportive: ‘This was really hard to get through and do a happy number when he feels the way that he feels, so I’m so proud of him,’ she said

It emerged earlier today that paramedics were scrambled to Flack’s north London home the day before she killed herself – but didn’t take her to hospital after a clinical assessment.

Sources told MailOnline that ambulance crews were sent to the former Love Island presenter’s Stoke Newington flat over ‘concerns for her welfare’, but decided against taking her to hospital after checking her over.

Caroline took her own life after a worried friend who was staying with her went to the shops, leaving her alone at her London flat.

The producer friend couldn’t get back into the flat when she returned.

She called Flack’s father Ian who gained entry to the flat where he found the star’s body. 

Thinking of you: 'I just want to send my love to her family and friends,' Joe said as the studio audience broke into applause

Thinking of you: 'I just want to send my love to her family and friends,' Joe said as the studio audience broke into applause

Thinking of you: ‘I just want to send my love to her family and friends,’ Joe said as the studio audience broke into applause 

Her management team have since described her as ‘vulnerable’ and criticised the CPS for pushing ahead with a pending court case despite her boyfriend Lewis Burton saying he did not want to press charges.

He had said she hit him with a lamp at her former home in Islington in December and as part of her bail conditions the pair were banned from contacting each other.

On Sunday Lewis shared a picture of the couple on holiday together on Instagram this morning, saying his ‘heart is broken’ and promising to ‘be her voice’.

His post read today: ‘My heart is broken, we had something so special. I am so lost for words I am in so much pain I miss you so much I know you felt safe with me you always said I don’t think about anything else when I am with you and I was not allowed to be there this time I kept asking and asking.

‘I will be your voice baby I promise I will ask all the questions you wanted and I will get all the answers nothing will bring you back but I will try make you proud everyday. I love you with all my heart.’

He then re-posted a picture Caroline uploaded to Instagram on December 5 that read: ‘In a world where you can be anything, be kind’, with the caption ‘I will love you forever’.