Tom King may still be inches away from death after his brutal confrontation with estranged wife Belle Dingle in Emmerdale.

Viewers of the ITV soap have been waiting for the villain portrayed by James Chase to face comeuppance for the months of abuse he inflicted upon his estranged wife Belle Dingle (portrayed by Eden Taylor-Draper) and on her beloved pooch Piper.

In recent Emmerdale scenes, Belle made the brave decision to hold him accountable for his actions and report him to the police, proof in hand. But when the news reached Amelia Spencer (Daisy Campbell), Tom was immediately made aware of Belle’s plan and he soon hatched his own.

Unfortunately for him, this resulted in him being struck with an axe by Belle, who was terrified for her life at the time. This Friday (September 27, 2024), however, it was revealed that Tom was not dead as he’d managed to flee before collapsing outside, where Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson) found him.

Tom was immediately rushed to hospital, just as Vinny and Sam Dingle (respectively played by Bradley Johnson and James Hooton) tried to find the sinister vet, to help Belle.

Tom was rushed to hospital this Friday but could he still be killed off?
Later on, and once Jimmy and Nicola King (Nick Miles and Nicola Wheeler) were summoned to hospital, Liam told the couple that Tom was suffering from a collapsed lung and internal bleeding.

Though the diagnosis is serious, both conditions can only become life-threatening if treatment is delayed. With Tom being in hospital, it’s still likely he could survive – unless someone gets to him before he can be discharged.

While multiple fans have argued that Tom shouldn’t be killed off, Emmerdale bosses have worked closely with Refuge, the largest UK domestic abuse organisation for women to ensure Belle’s story remains true to life. And sadly, domestic abuse survivors rarely get the justice they deserve off-screen.

Tom being in hospital will not only get back to Emmerdale residents, but it could also make him an easy target. In a new theory, Belle – or even someone close to her such as Charity (Emma Atkins) and Lydia – could pay Tom a visit in hospital, only to make sure he doesn’t come out of it alive.

Amelia has also been romantically involved with Tom and, while she may still be under his spell, Belle’s own injuries may shine a light on Tom’s true nature and convince her that he has no place in the village. But in this scenario, it’s highly unlikely she’d be capable of killing him.

Alternatively, if Tom survives, this could still leave Belle with the chance of making him pay for the abuse he inflicted on her. In this scenario, Tom is arrested in hospital after Belle turns him into the authorities with all the evidence she has. This may also mean that Belle will have to face justice for her own actions, even if they were in self-defence.