Coronation Street fans were in floods of tears as another major character was killed off by the nail-biting Horrornation Street drama.
In last week's blockbuster scenes Natasha Blakeman was shot in a case of mistaken identity by drugs lord Harvey Gaskell.
Harvey opened fire thinking that Natasha was Leanne Battersby after they both wore the same Morticia Addams Halloween costume.
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A devasated Nick Tilsley found his ex bleeding on the floor of the apartment he shares with partner Leanne.
And, while Leanne had a terrifying showdown with Harvey, Natasha was rushed to hospital.
In tonight's heart-wrenching scenes the drama focused on the fight to save the hairdresser's life as Nick comforted their 10-year-old son Sam.
In a final heartbreaking moment between mother and son Natasha, played by Rachel Leskovac, told Sam how much she loved him as she prepared to go back to surgery to stop internal bleeding.
"I love you so much. I'm so proud of you the boy who you are the man you're growing up to be," she said as she cradled her son in her hospital bed.
Afterwards Sam told Nick he was worried he didn't say 'I love you' back to Natasha as he planned the gifts he was going to take to her after the operation.
The tragic news was then broken to Sam by a member of hospital staff that Natasha didn't make it.
And fans were fuming to see such unbearable grief inflicted on adorable Sam, played by Jude Riordan who last month scooped the best newcomer prize at the National Television Awards.
"Why are they doing this to little Sam?" tweeted one viewer.
"Why would Coronation Street do that to poor Sam?" asked another.
"How could Coronation Street do this to Sam!? Such an innocent kid," another commented.
"No need to kill off Natasha …no need at all," huffed another soap watcher.
"TWO UNNECESSARY DEATHS. I'M FUMING," another shouted.
"My heart just broke poor Sam!" wrote another.
"OMFG that is just too much poor Sam, how could you kill off his mum," another fan wailed.
Other fans were impressed with the scene when Sam received the news.
"Just caught the end of Coronation Street. Must say I’m very impressed that they used the word died in the scene when letting a child know his mum had died. Not ‘passed away’. Line delivered plainly and sensitive. Well done writers," tweeted one.
"Awww, no!!! Poor Sam. Though the nurse kneeling down to his height to tell him the news was a nice touch," another wrote.
"Tbh that nurse did the most compassionate thing She could for Sam. She clearly connected with him deeply and breaking it to him the way she did was the right way for him. Poor lad," another remarked.
Fans think we will now see Leanne become stepmother to Sam after she lost her three-year-old son Oliver to a terminal illness last November.
"With both her and Oliver gone looks like a whole new step-family for both Sam and Leanne," said one.
"A bit of a full circle moment for her after losing Oliver," another wrote.
"Did they just kill off Natasha so Leanne can play mum to Sam? Totally unnecessary death," another fumed.
Jude's character Sam has made a big impression since he joined Corrie last October as the secret son of Nick with and his ex.
