When Tina Malone's husband Paul Chase passed away, the former Brookside actress was left utterly devastated. Now, in her first interview since it happened, the 61 year old is ready to open up on what happened.
In an exclusive interview with OK!, Tina spoke about the suicide of her “honest, caring, kind” life partner. She said: "He had felt so lost, so useless. He couldn’t fight any more.”
In the past few months, Tina has found comfort in her daughter Flame - who she shared with Paul - and explained the moment she broke the heart-breaking to her.
“I was honest from the outset with Flame about what happened. I didn’t want there to be any mystery about how he died – if you keep things from kids it just makes them more curious."
Tina continued: "And she tells me she has seen him both in her room and in the woods where he waved at her. It might be her way of coping but it’s a comfort.
“I’m not ashamed of what Paul did. I will always be proud of the man I married but I am worried about the stigma around suicide. I don’t want Flame to be defined as the daughter of a man who took his own life but the daughter of a wonderful dad and a man who served his country. That’s what we have to address."
Now Tina is ready to launch Paul’s Flame, a charitable foundation in his memory to help the most disadvantaged in our society.
“I don’t want to raise money for a retreat or a youth club or a building with bean bags and snooker tables. I want to build a charity to shine a light on people in poverty and in crisis who need hard cash. The single mum who needs a new washing machine, the man holding down two jobs and the exhaust on his car goes and he can’t get to work, someone who has come out of the army and needs a microwave for his flat.
“I saw for myself when Paul died how a community came together and I want to harness that to help others. I am looking to help people have a brighter, better future.”
Tina plans to go live with the charity on 28 May – what would have been Paul’s 42nd birthday. What would he think of the idea?
“He’d be extremely proud,” she smiles. "We could go forever talking about who failed him. Me, the army, society – we can all pass the buck but that’s not what it has to be about now. It has to be about positivity and change and helping people on the ground.”
“I don’t think I will ever stop crying and I will never ever love or be loved like that again,” adds Tina. “But we had more in 15 years than some people get in a lifetime together. I cling on to that.”
To get involved with Paul’s Flame contact Tina on X @TinaMalone23
If you need help with any of the issues raised, please contact Samaritans on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org, contact National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK on 0800 689 5652, SANEline on 0300 304 7000 or CALM on 0800 58 58 58
Photographer: Tim Merry, stylist: Charlotte Burton, make-up: Charlotte Sharples, video: Imade Osagiede
