Caroline Flack bench to give ‘power’ to those in need

A new “suicide prevention bench” is to be unveiled in north London honouring the late TV personality Caroline Flack, who took her own life in February 2020.

It will give “more power” to those struggling with suicidal thoughts, according to former Tottenham Hotspur footballer Micky Hazard.

The 64-year-old is an ambassador for Legend On The Bench, set up by his sister Michelle after her son Jay took his own life at the age of 23.

The bench will carry QR codes and messages offering help to those in need.

Flack’s mother is due to formally reveal the the latest bench in a “poignant” ceremony at Tottenham Community Sports Centre, Hazard said.

Former Spurs midfielder Hazard said the late Love Island presenter, who lived in Stoke Newington, had been “such a star, such a lovely person, so loved by so many people”.

He said he hoped the bench would help people considering ending their lives.

“For us as a suicide prevention charity, it gives the message so much more power.

“It’s a powerful message we send, that someone’s always listening and please talk, because by talking we could save your life.

“So we feel like [calling it] the Caroline Flack bench gives it so much more power, and so many more people will listen, and we’ll save more lives.”

Flack, who also presented the X-Factor, took her own life in February 2020 aged 40 after learning she was to be prosecuted for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton.

Hazard said Flack, who was born in London and grew up in Norfolk, was the “perfect” person to show that suicidal thoughts were not “something that just happens to people who are not successful or struggling to achieve”.

He said the bench also has QR codes linking to pictures and videos of her.

“So, people who sit on the bench and are thinking about suicide can link into this QR code and see this wonderful person’s life.”

Since beginning in October 2023, the charity has built eight illuminated suicide prevention benches in the country and hopes to have 40 installed by the end of the year in parks and on bridges.