Last week, Coronation Street viewers watched in horror as Gail Platt was rushed to hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Gail Platt seems to suffer heart attack in Coronation Street
In the latest instalment of Coronation Street, fans saw the iconic theme tune change at the end of the episode, suggesting a harrowing fate for Gail Platt.
In the week, fans of the ITV show saw the Platt matriarch have an argument with her two children, David and Sarah, before her new boyfriend, Jesse, arrived.
Demanding they leave so she could calm down, things quickly took a turn for the worst, and Gail was seen clutching her chest as Jesse called an ambulance.
Although she told the paramedics she was okay, Gail lost consciousness and was rushed to hospital and suffered a cardiac arrest.
Since then, she’s been recovering in hospital and appears to be in good spirits.
On Sunday night, Gail decided to take her relationship up a notch with Jesse and asked him to marry her.
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Admitting his love, Gail was overjoyed at the happy turn of events, although as the episode came to an end, medical sounds could be heard in the background of the usual theme tune.
While a heartbeat is also audible, after a short while, the sound flatlined. This is all due to an important message from the British Heart Foundation (BHF), which has teamed up with the soap.
The interrupted end credits were followed by a co-branded advert, which was voiced by BHF ambassador and former Corrie actor Kimberly Hart-Simpson.
Coronation Street’s theme-tune shake-up was to highlight the charity’s vital research into prevention, diagnosis, and treatment to help more people live longer and healthier lives.
Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and consultant cardiologist, said: “A heart attack can happen on any street, even Coronation Street. We’re honoured to be a part of British television history by working with ITV and Coronation Street to deliver the incredibly important message that heart attacks happen to women too and that supporting the BHF to fund science could save lives.
“We hope the unexpected sound of a heart monitor flatlining at the end of Sunday’s episode captured people’s attention and served as a reminder that Gail’s exit from the show could have ended very differently.
“Thankfully, in part due to vital medical research funded by the BHF, heart attack survival rates have dramatically improved over the past 60 years. But the job is not done, and cardiovascular disease is still the world’s biggest killer.
“With the generous support of people all over the UK, many of whom are Coronation Street fans, we can turn what once seemed like science fiction into reality. We need to keep funding new research to save and improve even more lives, to give people like Gail more time with the ones they love.”
Gail’s health scare comes ahead of her exit from the cobbles after actress Helen Worth made the decision to leave the soap after 50 years.
The announcement was made earlier this year, and the actress confessed that it felt like the right time to depart the show.
Talking about the credit takeover, Simon Daglish, Deputy Managing Director, Commercial, ITV, said: “Just as Gail’s heart momentarily stopped, we want to arrest the famous Coronation Street theme tune to showcase the incredible work of the British Heart Foundation.
“We’re very proud to be able to work with important charities and brands to help amplify their message in innovative and creative ways and help the BHF with their vital research.”
To find out more about heart attacks or donate to fund vital research into heart and circulatory diseases, visit: bhf.org.uk
Coronation Street continues on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV from 8pm.
