Summer Bay is left reeling this week when Ari is mown down from behind in a savage hit-and-run accident in Home And Away.
Loved ones rally to Ari’s side as his life hangs by the most slender of threads.
Is this the end for Ari?
We pick things up with Ari (Rob Kipa-Williams) trying to reconcile with his ex, Mia (Anna Samson). She’s about to skip town with her daughter Chloe (Sam Barrett), fed up with Ari’s involvement with crim Paul (Jake Finsterer) and his cronies – which led to Chloe being kidnapped along with three other local youngsters.
Having recently pulled the pin on his relationship with Mac (Emily Weir), Ari pleads for Mia to stay. But she remains steadfast – and declares she regrets letting him back in her life. Ouch!
“Ari is heartbroken – he’s faced with losing the love of his life,” Rob tells TV WEEK. “And who wouldn’t be angry if their daughter was kidnapped?
“Mia felt he had changed and it pains her to think he’s still the same guy, who will end up back in jail again. She doesn’t want to risk wearing her heart on her sleeve again.”
A dejected Ari walks along the road as he makes one final call to Chloe before she leaves. And then, from out of nowhere, a car roars up behind Ari, knocking him to the ground before speeding off.
The driver? You guessed it: Paul.
“Ari is blindsided by the car,” Rob says. “It’s a ruthless hit-and-run.”
At hospital, it’s clear Ari has multiple injuries and is placed in a medically induced coma. After looking at his scans, Dr Christian (Ditch Davey) delivers the grim news: Ari has a bleed on his brain and needs immediate surgery.
Meanwhile, Mac, who decides she’ll tell Ari she’s pregnant with his baby, is knocked sideways when she hears of his condition. C’mon, Ari, pull through…