Coronation Street fans have been left slightly confused after watching stalwart Nick Tilsley narrowly escape death.
The character, played by Ben Price, was rescued from drowning in quicksand at the last moment in Wednesday night’s episode.
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But after Ben previously revealed plans to leave the ITV soap this year, viewers were surprised to see him pull through what looked to be his final scene.
So… after all the “Is Nick going to die?” (In Corrie), the answer would appear to be “No”.
— Steve (@Steve_Irv) May 31, 2017
I swear nick is supposed to be leaving corrie? i thought he was gonna die in that water?!
— ❤️Crystal Hill❤️ (@CrystalHill141) May 31, 2017
So Nick doesn't die then??? #Corrie #letdown
— Shaun Hubbard (@crimson_crowbar) May 31, 2017
Some were even disappointed by Nick’s last-minute rescue as he was pulled to safety by coastguards, following his argument on the beach with fiancée Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) on Tuesday.
Nick first appeared in the ITV show in 1981 and has been played by Ben, 45, since 2009.
The disappointment when you learn nick doesn’t die… #corrie the character is so whiney.. The actor is good though pic.twitter.com/TyrotDQADp
— Katie Randall (@katierandall03) May 31, 2017
Nick’s not dead. My disappointment weighs on me like a troop of slightly overweight elephants #corrie #coronationstreet @itvcorrie
— TV Addict (@TVAddict666) May 31, 2017
well that was a disappointment thought Nick was going to die tonight #Corrie
— sally-ann kimmince (@skimmince82) May 31, 2017
Wednesday’s show opened with Nick sinking rapidly into the quicksand and his cries for help going unheard.
But Peter Barlow and Steve McDonald eventually found him and while Steve alerted the coastguard, Peter stayed by Nick’s side begging him not to give up on life.
And it seems he hasn’t because after he was carted off in an ambulance, the soap showed a trailer for tonight’s episode in which Nick and Leanne are seen having a heart to heart. She wants to make it work, but with his exit coming one way or another, we know it’s not going to.
So just how will Nick leave? Will there be some dramatic after effects of his brush with death? Or will he just walk away from his life in Weatherfield to start again?
Read more: Craig Tinker in danger from Nathan and Neil
Wednesday night’s show came amid a week of major plot twists in Weatherfield, including the return of Denise Osbourne (Denise Black) and the revelation that her son Daniel (Rob Mallard) tried to kill Ken Barlow (William Roache).
There was also an icky plot twist in the Bethany Platt grooming saga as a girl even younger than Bethany was seen at Nathan’s party.
Nick Davison summarised: “I think that was the best episode of @itvcorrie I have seen for a very long time. #Corrie.”
Coronation Street continues on ITV on Thursday at 9pm.