Shock: John suffered a stroke shortly after Irene passed away.
Summer Bay is reeling from a devastating double blow. Only days after saying goodbye to long-time friend Irene Roberts, John Palmer has been rushed to hospital following a sudden stroke. The heartbreaking storyline will leave viewers shattered as two of the Bay’s most beloved residents face tragedy within the same week.
A Week of Unimaginable Loss
The 2025 episodes pick up in the emotional aftermath of Irene’s death — a storyline that already left the community in mourning. Her passing had hit John (Shane Withington) harder than anyone realised. The two shared a decades-long friendship built on humour, loyalty and the kind of unspoken care that defined the heart of Summer Bay.
But grief quickly turns to crisis when John collapses at the Surf Club, clutching his chest before losing consciousness. Alarm spreads through the Bay as paramedics rush to save him.
The Terrifying Moment
Eyewitness scenes will show Alf and Marilyn discovering John moments before he loses consciousness. Alf calls for help while Marilyn desperately tries to keep him awake, whispering, “Stay with me, John — please.”
Doctors later confirm that John has suffered a major stroke brought on by stress, emotional exhaustion and years of heart strain. It’s a moment that shatters the Bay — one tragedy following another, leaving everyone struggling to process the loss of two pillars of the community.
Marilyn’s Despair
For Marilyn (Emily Symons), the event is almost unbearable. Having just stood beside Irene’s hospital bed, she now finds herself praying that John will survive. Sources close to production tease that Marilyn’s grief will be a central focus in the following episodes, as she clings to hope while fearing history will repeat itself.
“John has always been the rock of the Surf Club,” one insider explained. “To see him fall like this — and so soon after losing Irene — will devastate fans.”
Alf Steps Up
Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher) once again becomes the emotional anchor of the community, rallying support and organising vigils for both friends. His quiet strength and heartbreak will provide some of the season’s most powerful scenes, as he faces the terrifying possibility of losing two of the people he’s called family for more than a generation.
Fans React
Early teasers of the double tragedy have already sent Home and Away viewers into an emotional storm online.
“First Irene, now John? I can’t handle this,” one fan wrote. Another added, “The Bay’s heart is breaking. These characters are our family.”
What Happens Next
Writers have promised that John’s stroke will become a pivotal storyline for the start of the 2026 season, exploring recovery, grief and the meaning of community in the face of loss. Whether John survives — and what kind of life awaits him if he does — remains uncertain.
One thing is clear: the death of Irene and John’s stroke will change Summer Bay forever, reminding fans why Home and Away remains one of television’s most emotionally powerful dramas.