Yahoo News Love Island star Sophie's ex remembers their "bond"
Former Love Island star Sophie Gradon's ex-partner Tom Powell has opened up about the "bond" they shared following the news of her tragic death at the age of 32.
Sophie's boyfriend Aaron Armstrong broke the news on his Facebook page on Thursday, writing: "I will never forget that smile. I love you so so much baby your my world forever ever and always."
Tom, who met Sophie in the Love Island villa during its second series in 2016 after they coupled up, has spoken of his shock at the news and paid tribute to his former girlfriend.
"I'm still in total shock," he told OK! Online. "I just didn't expect this – I spoke to her a few weeks ago and she seemed as happy as Larry, she seemed the happiest I'd seen her in a while if I'm being totally honest with you. I'm totally devastated."
Tom added that he and Sophie had stayed in touch following their break-up and that they shared a close bond following their experiences on the show.
"Obviously we broke up badly, but then we both spoke about a year ago and apologised to each other, and since then we've been in regular contact," he said.
"Every two or three weeks we would FaceTime to have a chat. Obviously we met through Love Island, and people don't really understand that and how it created a bond between the two of us – so me and her were still quite close.
"It was two or three weeks ago that she said to me that she was dating this new guy and she seemed really happy about it, she seemed really positive."
Love Island host Caroline Flack and Sophie's co-stars from the show have paid tribute to her, with Sophie's former partner on the show, Katie Salmon, tweeting: "Fly high beautiful so high!"
A tribute was also aired as part of tonight's Love Island, with a memorial card being shown before the episode began.
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