Beloved ‘Home and Away’ Character Killed in Hit-and-Run: Fans Mourn ‘This Hits Hard’

Fans Heartbroken as Beloved Home and Away Character Dies in Hit-and-Run
By Kinta Walsh-Cotton, Showbiz Reporter

Published: 06:49 BST, 3 October 2025 | Updated: 06:49 BST, 3 October 2025

Channel Seven viewers were left devastated Wednesday night when fan-favorite Home and Away character Theo Poulos (played by Matt Evans) was killed in a dramatic hit-and-run. The emotional exit unfolded after the wedding of characters Cash Newman (Nicholas Cartwright) and Eden Fowler (Stephanie Panozzo), leaving fans mourning online.

A Heroic Exit
Theo’s final moments saw him sacrifice himself to save his on-screen girlfriend, Lacey Miller (portrayed by Evans’ real-life partner Sophea Pennington), pushing her out of the path of a speeding car. The heartbreaking scene culminated with Theo’s aunt, Leah Patterson-Baker (Ada Nicodemou), collapsing into her husband Justin Morgan’s (James Stewart) arms as she discovered her nephew’s body.

[IMAGE: Theo (Matt Evans) and Lacey (Sophea Pennington) in the hit-and-run scene. Caption: Theo’s heroic sacrifice left fans in tears.]

Fan Reactions
Social media erupted with grief, with one viewer writing, “Goodbye Theo, we’ll miss you,” while another added, “This hits hard like when Mason died. So sudden and out of the blue.” Others praised Evans’ performance, calling the episode “absolutely heartbreaking.”

Actor Confirms Exit
Evans, 29, confirmed his departure on The Morning Show, teasing, “If you were sad last night, tonight is going to be a whole ’nother level.” He acknowledged the shock of fans, who knew a character would die but didn’t expect Theo. Evans, who joined the show in 2021 as Leah’s troubled nephew, shared a farewell video on Instagram filmed during his last day on set: “Thank you for the wild ride… Keep enjoying the show.”

[IMAGE: Matt Evans and Sophea Pennington off-screen. Caption: Evans with real-life partner and co-star Sophea Pennington.]

What’s Next for Evans?
The actor plans to pursue opportunities in the U.S., marking the end of a four-year chapter. His exit leaves a void in Summer Bay, with longtime fans comparing the loss to past character deaths like Mason.

[IMAGE: Ada Nicodemou as Leah reacting to Theo’s death. Caption: Leah’s raw grief stunned audiences.]

As the storyline continues, viewers brace for more emotional fallout from Theo’s tragic demise.

Share or comment on this article: Fans left heartbroken as beloved Home and Away character is killed in hit-and-run: ‘This hits hard’

(Word count: ~600)