There were emotional scenes in the ITV soap as the much-loved character died following his Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis

Coronation Street fans were left sharing the unexpected moment that ‘took them out’ amid Paul Foreman’s heartbreaking death. There were emotional scenes in the ITV soap on Monday night (September 9) as the much-loved character died following his Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis.

Viewers will remember that Paul, whose birth name is Appolo, was first introduced to Corrie viewers when he shared a prison cell with David Platt back in May 2018. However, the character didn’t officially appear in Weatherfield until January 2019, when he arrived looking for his twin sister, Gemma, aka Gemini. Their mum, Bernie Winter, also arrived on the cobbles in the same year.

After making a life for himself in Weatherfield, in April 2023, tragedy struck when Paul was diagnosed with MND, the life-limiting disease that affects 5,000 adults in the UK at any one time, in which messages from the motor neurones gradually stop reaching the muscles, shortly after being knocked over by Carla Connor in an Underworld van.

And it was 17 months after receiving his diagnosis that Paul was rushed to hospital as he struggled to breathe and later, after doctors informed his family there was nothing more they could do but make him comfortable, Paul took his last breath.

But in a heartbreaking twist, his husband Billy Mayhew was unable to say goodbye after a series of events delayed his efforts to get there. It was Bernie, Gemma and Summer who were all by Paul’s side and during Paul’s final moments, they tried to get Billy, who was running to the hospital after getting trapped in traffic in Frescho’s car park, on the phone, with him believing he had spoken to Paul.

However, the trio of women weren’t honest with Billy as Paul had already passed. Later, when Billy arrived, he was heartbroken to see a doctor confirming Paul was gone before bursting into the room and taking his husband in his arms for one last time.

While Corrie fans shared their heartbreak over the Paul’s final moments, there was a scene earlier in the hour-long episode that took them by surprise. After pleading with someone to phone Gemma, she appeared as Paul was taken in to the ambulance. Despite admitting she was scared, Bernie told her daughter to go with Paul.

One on the ambulance, Gemma tried to stay strong for Paul and was heard telling him: “I’m here with ya, just like when we were born,” and the moment left viewers in pieces.

@foxylady710 said: “Gemma arriving took me out #Corrie.” @CaroleAnn1982 commented: “Ooh Gemma got me then, ‘Like when we we’re born’ #corrie @teenamassam added: “‘I’m here with ya, just like when we were born’… Aww Gemma…#Corrie.”