Ruth Langsford spoke out on her sister’s suicide during an emotional segment on Monday’s episode of This Morning.
The ITV presenter broke down in tears as the show discussed Caroline Flack’s death over the weekend.
Telling viewers that ‘this happened in my family,’ Ruth tearfully explained what it was like for a family member left behind after suicide.
Loss: Ruth Langsford spoke out on her sister’s suicide during an emotional segment on Monday’s episode of This Morning focusing on Caroline Flack’s death
Ruth’s sister Julia Johnson, 62, who had battled depression for years, was found dead by her husband Paul at their home in Lingfield, Surrey in June 2019.
At the time, the ITV host, 59, told viewers her sister had died ‘after a long illness’, with an inquest later ruling she had died by suicide.
Devastated, Ruth was unable to go to work that week and two months later she left the This Morning studio in tears unable to continue with a phone-in on anxiety and depression.
Speaking to psychologist Emma Kenny on Monday’s This Morning, Ruth spoke in public about her sister’s suicide for the first time, explaining: ‘This happened in my family. I remember my shock at that. It’s the questions it leaves the families’.
She continued with a list of a list of questions family members may have: ‘I should have gone round. I should have phoned. I was going to go round. I was going to phone. Maybe I should have stayed longer,’ she said.
Telling viewers that ‘this happened in my family,’ Ruth tearfully told viewers what it was like for a family member left behind after suicide during a discussion with her husband Eamonn Holmes (left), Nicola Thorp and Matthew Wright
Grief: Ruth’s sister Julia Johnson, 62, who had battled depression for years, was found dead by her husband Paul at their home in Lingfield, Surrey in June 2019
Tears: Ruth spoke in public about her sister’s suicide for the first time, explaining: ‘This happened in my family. I remember my shock at that’
She added: ‘You are left with the ‘what ifs’. It’s her family now that I think will need so much help.’
Later Ruth broke down in tears during a discussion about Caroline with actress Nicola Thorp and Mathew Wright.
‘You believe you don’t have a choice, that’s the sad thing and that’s the sad thing for people left behind who say, “So many people loved you, you did have a choice, you could have called me, you could have called mum…”‘ Ruth said before she was unable to continue.
Emotional: ‘You believe you don’t have a choice, that’s the sad thing and that’s the sad thing for people left behind’ she continued
Ruth’s husband and co-presenter Eamonn Holmes stepped in, reminding audiences that the show’s phone in would focus on depression and anxiety.
Sharing a photo alongside Julia last year, Ruth told her Instagram followers: ‘My lovely Sis Julia has sadly died after a very long illness. My heart is completely broken.’
‘She was the kindest and most gentle soul and I will miss her forever. As I am sure you will appreciate I need to take time to grieve with my family. ‘Thank you for your understanding.’
Support: Ruth’s husband and co-presenter Eamonn Holmes stepped in, reminding audiences that the show’s phone in would focus on depression and anxiety
Loss: Love Island presenter Caroline died on Saturday at her new flat in Stoke Newington, London
Love Island presenter Caroline died on Saturday at her new flat in Stoke Newington, London, hours after she was told she would face trial over the alleged assault of boyfriend Lewis Burton last year – while the producer friend who was staying with her went to the shops.
ITV cancelled scheduled Love Island episodes over the weekend but said the show would return tonight with a tribute to Caroline, who presented five series before stepping back following her arrest.
Ruth’s husband Eamonn Holmes paid tribute to Caroline on Saturday, while insisting there needs to be ‘repercussions.’
Hitting out: Ruth’s husband Eamonn Holmes paid tribute to Caroline on Saturday, while insisting there needs to be ‘repercussions’
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)
Caroline is the third Love Island star to have died in the last two years after former contestants Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon, took their own lives in March 2019 and June 2018.
Heartbreaking: Caroline is the third Love Island star to have died in the last two years after former contestants Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon, took their own lives in March 2019 and June 2018 (L-R pictured during their time on Love Island)
It emerged on Sunday 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.
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’.
If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org