Emmerdale fans were sickened and upset last night when Vanessa Woodfield was stabbed and left fighting for her life.
On Thursday (10 January), ITV viewers finally learned the identity of Lachlan’s secret accomplice when vet Vanessa was the victim of a brutal attack and rushed to hospital.
Read more: Emmerdale SPOILER: David rumbles Maya?
It was a tragic case of wrong place, wrong time, when Vanessa returned to The Woolpack to find Lachlan White’s dad Donny Cairn splashing petrol around the bins.
Bravely confronting the hooded figure and pushing him to the ground, Donny lashed out at her with a broken bottle, stabbing her in the abdomen.
He then set fire to the bins in a revenge attack against the Dingles, before making a getaway in Vanessa’s car.
Read more: Emmerdale: Best theories on how Joe Tate could return
Vanessa screamed for him to stop, pleading: “No please my boy. My boy.”
Donny, totally unaware that young Johnny was strapped in the back seat, drove away from the burning Woolpack as flames and smoke billowed from the back of the pub.
After Vanessa dragged herself into the pub, she was rushed to hospital while girlfriend Charity chased Donny, stopped him and bashed him unconscious with a pole – getting Johnny back safe and sound, while the police arrived to arrest Donny.
Rushing to the hospital, however, Charity was told the horrifying news that Vanessa could DIE after suffering potentially fatal internal bleeding.
As Vanessa underwent (hopefully) life-saving surgery, fans were devastated and poured out their grief on Twitter.
One said: “Nooooooo @emmerdale @ChelleHardwick PLEASE don’t let Vanessa die. What an episode. Come on girl you can pull through. you need to Marry charity.”
He’s a nasty piece of work, poor Vanessa…😨😓 #Emmerdale
— Teena Massam 💙🌷🌼 (@teenamassam) January 10, 2019
Y'all cant kill Vanessa now, everyone loves her too much. She's actually trending #1 @emmerdale pic.twitter.com/lRo4BfAoAN
— Shannon (@ShannonHarding) January 10, 2019
Vanessa better not DIE!!!! #emmerdale
— Jfield (@jfield03) January 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/alimallett38/status/1083461059971829761
https://twitter.com/KerryLouiseRoss/status/1083460904522563585
https://twitter.com/summaya_i/status/1083460237359751169
https://twitter.com/KavanLamy/status/1083460903654309890
Wow loved tonight, amazing performance @ChelleHardwick – didnt see it being Lachlan dad. Glad Johnny ok. Great episodes. Vanessa will pull through xxx #Emmerdale #FearsAndSecrets #vanity
— Charlene Neilly (@Neilly17) January 10, 2019
Another said: “Y’ll cant kill Vanessa now, everyone loves her too much. She’s actually trending #1.”
A third said: “He’s one nasty piece of work. Poor Vanessa.”
Will Vanessa pull through? And is this the last we’ll hear of Lachlan and Donny?
Did you guess the perpetrator was Lachlan’s dad Donny Cairn? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!