Emmerdale’s Tom King was left for dead after being attacked by estranged wife Belle Dingle with an axe, but he was later confirmed to still be alive despite his horrific injuries

Emmerdale viewers have all been left gobsmacked after it was revealed that Tom King is still alive.

The village’s resident vet, played by James Chase, has been tormenting his estranged wife Belle Dingle, portrayed by Eden Taylor-Draper, for months. She finally plucked up the courage to tell her family the truth and ended things with Tom, desperate to escape his clutches.

Earlier this week, Belle bravely decided to report Tom’s abuse to the police after discovering hidden cameras in her cottage, evidence that he had been spying on her.

However, when Tom’s new love interest, Amelia Spencer, played by Daisy Campbell, found out about Belle’s plan to go to the police, she revealed all. Later, in a chilling turn of events, Tom let himself into the Dingle house, leaving Belle petrified.

Tom then attacked Belle in horrifying scenes, but it wasn’t long before Belle saw an opportunity to flee, grabbing a nearby hunting rifle, reports Leeds Live.

Wicked Tom quickly followed with an axe in hand. Belle sought refuge in a shed, but Tom found her and, in a shocking twist, hacked down the door to get in.

Meanwhile, back in the village, Belle’s family, Sam Dingle (James Hooton), Lydia Dingle (Karen Blick) and Vinny Dingle (Bradley Johnson) were left shocked after learning from Amelia that Tom was at the house with Belle, and they rushed to her aid.

In a chilling showdown, Tom ditched his axe, goading Belle to take a shot at him. She pulled the trigger, but lo and behold, the safety catch was on and Tom lived to see another day. But as he primped and preened in front of a shattered mirror, an axe got buried in his back.

Belle was in bits thinking she might’ve offed her hubby on Friday’s (September 27) cliffhanger, but when Vinny and Sam scoped out the crime scene, Tom’s body had done disappeared and he somehow stumbled into the road and Dr Liam Cavanagh (played by Jonny McPherson) found him collapsed on the ground.

Fans took to X, also known asTwitter, to share thoughts with one tweeting: “wtf how did he get the axe out of his back? ? I knew he wasn’t dead tho it would be too obvious an ending.”

Another chimed: “I knew it. He has more lives that a cat.” While someone else was just baffled, asking: “How the hell did he get the axe out?”.

The drama ramped up with Tom carted off to hospital sporting a knackered lung, leaving Belle wondering about him waking up to reveal all.

Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX at 7.30pm