Casualty viewers left in tears as new death leaves two fan favourites in turmoil

Casualty viewers were left in floods of tears during Saturday evening’s explosive episode, which saw the Holby emergency department rocked by a devastating plane crash on the outskirts of the city’s airport. Immediately jumping into action, paramedics raced to the scene, along with police and fire crews, while the Holby staff readied the department for a mass influx of injuries.

Yet while the department was fully prepared to take on the challenge, nothing could have prepared the staff for the death of one of their own, when nurse Siobhan’s fireman husband Rich was caught up in an explosion at the crash site. Initially, it appeared that Rich had avoided certain death when he was admitted to the ED with little more than smoke inhalation, with Siobhan racing to her estranged husband’s side.

Setting aside the state of their strained marriage, Siobhan confessed how relieved she was to realise Rich was alright, particularly as one of his colleagues wasn’t so lucky. Letting the situation reinforce how much she wanted to try and make their marriage work, a tearful Siobhan admitted “I’m glad you’re okay” before heading back to work.

Yet in a brutal blow, Rich’s condition later proved to be more serious than expected and he soon began to deteriorate while undergoing a scan, prompting emergency procedures to kick in as he began struggling to breathe. Luckily, Siobhan was on hand to summon more help and remained at his side as he teetered on the brink of unconsciousness.

Noticing he was trying to say something, Siobhan shrugged it off, telling Rich he didn’t need to say it, as she thought he was going to declare his love, but in a brutal blow to his worried wife, he instead declared: “I’m sorry. Siobhan, tell Stevie I love her.” He also urged Siobhan to make sure that Stevie was “supported” after his death.

Rich’s finals words no doubt came as a huge and crushing blow for Siobhan, as she had already confronted both him and Dr.Stevie Nash over their affair shortly before Christmas. Blindsided and hurt by the news, Siobhan appeared remarkably detached as she watched the medics try to resuscitate her husband, but unfortunately he later died, prompting an outpouring of tears.

As staff rushed to support Siobhan, Stevie was left to wander outside alone, trying to come to terms with the loss of her lover, while also having kept the nature of her affair a secret from her wider colleagues. Grieving in her own way, Stevie went on to listen to a voicemail Rich had left just before he died, telling her that he was leaving Siobhan, and that “better days were coming.”

She then headed back inside, clearly on the verge of tears, but when asked by Dillon if she was okay, she simply responded “I’m fine.”

Following the heartbreaking scenes, fans rushed to social media to share their thoughts, with many left divided over how to feel.

“The stillness of Stevie at the end of that episode is haunting. It’s honestly more heartbreaking than any external display of grief. Why am I legitimately worried about her,” wrote one fan.

A second fan also weighed in, as they observed: “”Make sure she’s supported” while Siobhan is supported in her public displays of grief and Stevie is alone in her suppressed emotions and pain.”

Meanwhile a third fan added: “I notice how Siobhan hasn't mentioned to anyone how her husband was going to leave her. And it was coming for months. Him dying was the only way she would let him leave.”

Before a fourth commented: "That was a low blow Rich, then falls unconscious”, while a fifth echoed: “"Tell Stevie I love her” What a b*****d.”

Another added: “I mean I love Stevie too don’t get me wrong but saying that sh!t to your soon to be ex wife and mother of your children GIRL that’s the last thing you said to her Rich…”

Not everyone was so upset about Rich’s demise however, with some questioning how both women were in love with a cheat to begin with. One fan wrote: “I really don't understand why Siobhan and Stevie are fighting over Rich. He's a cheat with the personality of a house plant.”

A second fan then added: “I am annoyed that Siobhan is angry at Stevie and yet still fawns over her cheating husband”

There were also comments about what this means for Siobhan and Stevie now, as Siobhan had yet to relay her husband’s final words to Stevie, prompting many to wonder if she would ever let his true feelings be known.

One curious fan asked: “Will Siobhan ever tell Stevie what Rich said?”

While a second added: “Siobhan making the active choice not to tell Stevie OH WHEN I CATCH YOU!!! WHEN I CATCH YOU!!! THATS NAAAAASTY!!! THATS JUST SPITEFUL BECAUSE HE SAID HE LOVED HER NAHHHHHHHHH.”