Laura Whitmore has revealed she lost a family member to Covid-19 during lockdown.
Speaking on Women’s Health Going for Goal podcast, the TV presenter reflected on the difficulties she’s faced over the past few months.
Laura said: “It’s been a difficult year for so many people, and a lot of people have lost people before their time.”
“My cousin passed away of coronavirus during lockdown, he was only in his 40s in Ireland.”
The 35-year-old also admitted she struggled to deal with the loss of her friend Caroline Flack, who sadly took her own life back in February.
Laura explained: “I think at the time I didn’t deal with it because I probably wasn’t in a position where I could, because I was still doing this show [Love Island] and I really didn’t know…”
“I’ve never lost someone in my group of friends who is so young. It’s hard, I’d get tagged in something by a fan account of Caroline and I’ll think it’s Caroline and it’s only now it’s hit me that’s not her.”
The Bray native also said lockdown gave her time to grieve in private.
She said: “I feel it’s okay to do a grieve privately if you choose to… I found it really difficult because it [Caroline’s death] was so public, that’s why lockdown was really great if I’m honest because I had that privacy, and I had that time.”
“I’m that person that doesn’t like to stay still and maybe to my detriment sometimes. I’ve always got a suitcase and I’m always going somewhere.”
“I’ve been forced to stay still, and I think it’s been good for me… my body needed a break and needed a break badly when March came. I was forced to take a break.”
“It has been so, so important for me to deal with things, a lot of things have happened this year,” she added.
