Soapworld
EastEnders boat crash claims the life of Dennis Rickman
The focal point of the show’s iconic opening titles was incorporated into a dramatic storyline this week.
The Carters hosted a boat party on the waterway to celebrate winning ‘Pub of the Year’, and Dennis (Bleu Landau), one of the attendees, was pursued on to the boat by an angry Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt).
Ian’s son Bobby was attacked by a group of racist thugs earlier this week after being trolled by Dennis online.
With Dennis unrepentant, Ian struck his face before locking him in a room below deck, but when a fight between Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) and Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) led to a collision and the boat taking on water, Ian was alarmed to discover that he may have put his friend’s son in danger.
Ian’s immediate reaction was to save Dennis although Tuesday’s ‘doof doof’ left us with the possibility that he may abort his rescue attempt. In tonight’s (21st February) episode, Ian came through for Dennis as he smashed his way into the locked room with a fire extinguisher. However, just as it looked like they had escaped, a surge of water overcame Ian and Dennis and, after being pulled from the murky depths, they were next seen being referred to as ‘two suspected fatalities’ as paramedics fought to save their lives.
Ian was rushed to hospital while horrified survivors watched as attempts to resuscitate Dennis at the scene proved unsuccessful. At the hospital Ian was devastated to learn from Kathy (Gillian Taylforth) that Dennis hadn’t made it, while Sharon (Letitia Dean) who had just given birth to a baby boy was anguished when Keanu broke the news to her. Sharon blamed herself for Dennis’s death before turning on Keanu, telling him that she never wanted to see him again.
“If you and me had never…if I’d never let you into my life I’d still have my son. I never want to see you again. GET OUT!” – Sharon vented at Keanu
Dennis’s death is sure to weigh heavy on the consciences of both Phil and Ian as well; if Phil hadn’t gone after Keanu the boat would never have crashed while Ian will have to live with the fact that locking Dennis in a room delayed his escape from the stricken vessel.
There were no other fatalities from the crash with Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) breaking his wife Linda’s (Kellie Bright) ankle to ensure that she didn’t go down with the boat. Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) who had gone overboard amid a tussle with Keanu was hauled to safety by the Branning brothers, while Bex Fowler (Jasmine Armfield) who’d had a bad reaction to some recreational drugs also made it to dry land.
The fallout from this week’s episodes begins on Monday at 8.00pm on BBC One.
