In a jaw-dropping turn of events on EastEnders, Tuesday’s explosive episode left fans speechless as Zack Hudson and Teddy Mitchell’s car plunged into a lake—sparking wild speculation that Zack could be plotting the ultimate escape: faking his own death.

The chaos began after a volatile confrontation involving Zack, Harry, and Teddy. Tensions reached a boiling point after the truth about Zack being Barney’s biological father came to light. In a twisted act of revenge, Harry lured Zack to The Arches under false pretenses, promising to help him flee with Barney. But instead of helping, Harry drugged Zack and shoved him unconscious into the boot of a car.

Teddy, desperate to defuse the situation, scrambled to intercept his son’s reckless plan. With help from Billy, Honey, and Nigel, he tracked the car down and freed Zack from the boot. Attempting to make peace, Teddy offered Zack a ride home. But when Zack came to in the passenger seat, still dazed and panicked, he seized the steering wheel—sending their car careening off the road and plunging into a nearby lake.

As the vehicle flipped underwater, panic swept through Walford—and viewers alike.

But what comes next could be even more shocking.

Some fans are convinced that this near-death experience won’t just be a tragic accident—but the beginning of a carefully orchestrated escape. A theory gaining traction on social media proposes that Zack will fake his own death to vanish from Walford, dodging the wrath of the Mitchells and creating space for a dramatic future return.

“Zack goes to jail or fakes his own death/goes on the run and hides with Whit and Dolly to come back at a later date,” one fan speculated on X. “It just wouldn’t be safe for Zack to hang around Walford now with the Mitchells on the warpath.”

The theory makes sense. The Mitchells are not a family you want to cross, and Zack has been entangled in enough drama lately to warrant a full-blown disappearance. By staging his death in the chaos of the lake crash, Zack could buy himself time, safety, and distance. And with Whitney and baby Dolly in the picture, fans are already imagining a heartfelt reunion down the line.

But before viewers get too far ahead, there’s still the immediate aftermath of the crash to unravel. Will Zack survive the plunge? Will Teddy make it out alive? And if Zack is rescued, will he seize the chance to fake his death—or will someone else beat him to the punch?

Spoilers tease that upcoming scenes will see frantic rescue attempts, desperate searches, and emotional fallout as Walford reels from the accident. But the real twist may be hiding beneath the surface—literally.

Is this the end of Zack Hudson… or just the beginning of his boldest move yet?

Stay tuned to EastEnders on BBC One to watch the drama unfold.