In devastating scenes set to air next week, Home and Away fans are being warned to brace themselves for one of the most emotional and shocking storylines the show has delivered in years. Beloved character Tane Parata (Ethan Browne) is left fighting for his life after a harrowing accident during a daring rescue attempt that goes horribly wrong — and it all happens as he tries to save Harper Matheson (Jessica Redmayne).

It begins as an ordinary day in Summer Bay, with Harper setting out on a coastal hike to clear her mind after weeks of turmoil. But when a sudden storm rolls in, disaster strikes — and Harper slips from a cliff edge, clinging desperately to a ledge as waves crash below. In a moment of pure instinct and courage, Tane races to help… unaware that his act of heroism will lead to tragedy.

As Harper screams for help, Tane manages to reach her — but in a cruel twist of fate, the ground gives way beneath him. Witnesses at the scene recall the heart-stopping moment as Tane plunged several metres, landing hard against the rocks. “It was chaos,” says one onlooker in the emotional episode. “He didn’t even hesitate — he just went for it. He saved her, but it cost him everything.”

In the aftermath, Harper is rescued but wracked with guilt as Tane lies unconscious, bloodied and unresponsive. Rushed to Northern Districts Hospital, his fate hangs in the balance as doctors battle to save him. Mackenzie, Felicity, and the rest of the Bay gather in stunned silence, their faces etched with fear and disbelief.

“He’s always been the strong one,” Felicity whispers through tears in a preview clip. “I can’t lose him — not like this.”

Behind the scenes, the storyline has been kept tightly under wraps, with producers reportedly determined to deliver an emotional gut-punch to viewers. “This is one of the most powerful episodes we’ve ever done,” a show insider tells TV Week. “Tane’s journey has always been about courage, loyalty, and love — and this accident will test all three.”

The scenes promise to be a major turning point for the Bay’s residents, particularly Harper, who blames herself entirely. As guilt consumes her, friends rally to remind her that Tane made his choice out of love and instinct — but whether she can forgive herself is another story.

Ethan Browne’s performance has already been hailed as “career-defining,” with sources saying he poured everything into the emotional scenes. “It broke everyone’s heart on set,” one crew member reveals. “There wasn’t a dry eye when they called cut.”

With Tane’s condition still uncertain and tensions rising among his loved ones, viewers can expect an emotional rollercoaster in the coming weeks. Will he pull through — or will Summer Bay face another devastating goodbye?

One thing’s for certain: Summer Bay will never be the same again after this heartbreaking twist.