Emmerdale fans have been pleading 'not Sam' after the Dingle favourite was seen impaled on a piece of farming machinery. The ITV soap's 50th anniversary windstorm stunt claimed its first vicitm on Monday night (October 17) when viewers discovered Harriet Finch had died in a freak accident.
But by the end of the half-an-hour-long episode, fans were left fearing for another much-loved character as in Sam's haste to get away from a cow stampede, he divided over some hay bales and was caught trapped on a piece of farm machinery, with a spike going straight through his shoulder.
As the episode ended it didn't look good for Sam with half-sister Belle Dingle and Nate Robinson, who had already been crushed by the charging farm animals who had been spooked by the raging storm, looking on horrified.
READ MORE: ITV Emmerdale's Sam Dingle star James Hooton reveals how 'spike' was created in horror scenes
And it was just the characters who appeared horrified as Emmerdale viewers admitted to 'gasping' over the gruesome accident. But it also caused a divide, with some slamming Sam's impalement as 'unnecessary'. @ReidShaneP tweeted: "Jesus @emmerdale what a way to kill off Sam. Little bit unnecessarily graphic before the watershed."
@EmmaLouise236 replied: "I thought it was a bit grim and a bit of a shock Christ." @ashtoneastwoodd posted: "I was so shocked when I saw what happened to Sam! I've seen a lot of comments saying they hope he doesn't die but to be honest I doubt he's surviving THAT." @shaynevibes_16 said: "Can not believe what I’ve just witnessed tonight no way Sam dies it’s getting so bad for the dingle family."
@hayley_js_ shared: "What a shock! I quite literally gasped. Poor Sam i thought he had escaped! Well done emmerdale did not expect that!" @KarisNembhard added: "How have I just watched the last 5 mins of #emmerdale and seen Sam Dingle might be dead nah this has ruined my night."
And fans have also made their feelings VERY clear about what they want to happen to the character, played by James Hooton for the best part of 20 years. @JoboMcfo tweeted: "When I tell you we screamed when it showed Sam. He best be ok #Emmerdale @emmerdale." @mikepriestley13 commented: "Sam dingle better be ok @emmerdale for god sake I didn’t expect that.. what you’ve put him through over the years with his wife dying of cancer and killing him like this. Pray for Sam."
When speaking to the Manchester Evening News and other press about the shock scenes, James was asked whether the fallout to the scenes and the 50th week would be "huge" for the Dingle family, to which said: "Yeah, absolutely." He was also asked about his time on the show, replying: "It has been fantastic," but remained coy over whether his character can survive.
Spoilers have already revealed that Sam's wife Lydia will get some terrible news. During the latest tip to the Dales, viewers saw the Home Farm cleaner arrive at a barn in time to help Amelia Spencer as she went into labour in the middle of nowhere. While fans will be quick to assume the news is about Sam, could it really be Amelia or the baby she is having with her step-son Samson?
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- ITV Emmerdale boss defends village being hit by another storm and shares why it is set in the day
- ITV Emmerdale's special nod to first ever episode in 50th anniversary special viewers may miss
