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They say cats have nine lives, and so do a lot of Emmerdale characters, and no matter how many times they stare death in the face, they never actually meet their maker.

These extremely fortunate folk have overcome illnesses, survived catastrophic accidents and managed to escape murderers. In all honesty, they’ve got us wondering why and how they’re still breathing.

Here are nine Emmerdale characters who have defied the odds when it comes to death…

Cain Dingle deserves an award when it comes to Emmerdale characters’ deaths

Cain Dingle is the soap’s Mr Invincible. No matter how many brushes with death this guy had, he always lives to fight another day – quite remarkable considering the rest of the Emmerdale characters on the list.

The mechanic came closest to meeting his maker in 2011 when he was left for dead in a huge whodunit storyline, dubbed ‘Judgement Day’. Cain was bludgeoned over the head with a crowbar by a mystery assailant, who later turned out to be his dad, Zak. But after a few weeks in hospital he was ready to go again.

So Cain survived having his skull smashed in, but what else?

He almost burnt to death after Adam Barton set fire to his garage in revenge for Cain destroying his mum and dad’s marriage. He’s also undergone surgery for a brain aneurysm, and nearly drowned in a freezing river.

Then there was the time Cain nearly blew himself up while trying to get Nate killed for sleeping with Moira. He also suffered a near-fatal brain injury during a violent brawl with nephew Aaron, and most recently cheated death when Moira blew up Butler’s barn.

He should come with a health and safety warning!

Mackenzie Boyd

How is Mack still alive? No, seriously. How is he still alive? It’s true that Mack gets himself into most of these dangerous situations, but he’s been fortunate to survive them.

In 2023, Mack was involved in a terrifying car accident with his wife Charity and lover Chloe – which only happened because he played away. The vehicle was left hanging over the edge of a cliff, and Mack managed to save himself and Charity from the wreckage. Chloe went down with the car, but miraculously wasn’t killed.

Mack was then held hostage by Chloe’s gangster dad, Harry. And he would have ended up with a bullet in his head if it wasn’t for Charity saving the day, and shooting Harry dead.

His latest two lives have been used up. First, surviving getting stabbed in the stomach by Charity, then almost getting gored by an angry bull.

What’s going to be next?

Aaron Dingle

Aaron must know Hotten General like the back of his hand – he’s spent enough time there over the years.

The troubled Emmerdale character has a history of self-harm, and faced death when he developed septicemia after deliberately cutting his skin. Aaron’s overdosed on drugs and attempted suicide more than once.

In October 2016 he almost died after he and lover Robert were involved in the Hotten Bypass Crash. The couple’s car plunged into a lake and Aaron was trapped under the water. He was rushed to hospital and flatlined seconds after Robert popped the question.

But thanks to the miracles of modern medicine Aaron was saved.

Most recently John had to perform emergency surgery on his boyfriend after his lung collapsed. Aaron was taken to Hotten where it was revealed John had saved his life.

Sarah Sugden

Life hasn’t been very kind to poor Sarah, but she’s somehow managed to hang on in there.

At six-years-old she was diagnosed with fanconi anemia, a rare genetic disease, which increases the risk of cancer. Sarah developed leukemia and needed a bone marrow transplant to save her life, so Debbie and Andy conceived a saviour sibling. Baby Jack was born and was a match for his sister.

Sarah recovered, but was nearly killed after Kerry Wyatt accidentally set fire to Dale View while babysitting her and Jack.

Her health took another tragic turn in 2017 when she was diagnosed with throat cancer. Sarah’s long-lost great grandmother Faith stumped up £20,000 for her to undergo private treatment in Prague, which was a success.

If that wasn’t enough, less than 12 months later Sarah went into heart failure – a rare side-effect of her chemotherapy. A donor was found and Sarah underwent a risky heart transplant. Once more, there was a guardian angel looking down on her.

Sarah’s most recent hospital trips have been due to her drinking – something she’s not allowed to do due her condition.

Moira Dingle is one of those Emmerdale characters whose been through enough, let alone near-death experiences

Moira’s another one that’s lucky to still be breathing if you think about all she’s been through.

She survived the car accident that claimed the life of her first husband John, walking away from the wreckage with just cuts and bruises. Then her life fell apart after the death of her daughter Holly from a heroin overdose.

Moira almost succumbed to addiction herself after she developed a dangerous alcohol habit. She once passed out drunk behind the wheel of her car and avoided what could have been a fatal collision.

2024 was the year Moira was forced to face her own mortality after being diagnosed with a non-cancerous brain tumour. After almost blowing herself and others up in an explosion at Butler’s barn, Moira’s underwent life-saving surgery to remove the mass.

She’s come through the operation, but isn’t out of the woods yet. Now Moira has to face her next hurdle – a course of radiotherapy. Will it be the death of her? Or will the Emmerdale cast member join the list of characters who survived death yet again?

Kathy Glover

Fan favourite Kathy was used to her husbands dying on her, but she also came close on a few occasions.

In 1998 the cafe owner became the victim of a hit and run after Steve Marchant accidentally ran her over. He didn’t call the police as he was carrying out a robbery at the time and it was hours before Kathy was discovered. She spent several weeks in a coma, during which time Steve tried to suffocate her with a pillow to stop her telling the police he’d been driving the car.

Kathy was in peril again when she grew close to secret killer Graham Clark. He’d already done away with her best mate Rachel Hughes and made her death look like suicide. Graham almost killed Kathy by driving off a cliff top, but she escaped with her life.

Then just weeks later, Kathy was one of the passengers travelling on a community bus which collided with a Tate Haulage lorry. She was one of the last ones to be freed from the wreckage, which claimed several lives.

Kim Tate

Queen Kim is immortal, well that’s what we’re telling ourselves. But that doesn’t mean she hasn’t given us a few scares during her magnificent reign.

Christmas 1996 was very nearly Kim’s last after she got trapped in a fire at Home Farm. But it was her lover Dave Glover who went up in flames while rescuing baby James from the blaze.

After Kim made a triumphant return to the Dales in 2018, she was pushed off a balcony by Faith Dingle. We all feared Kim was no more, but she lived to tell the tale.

She’s also withstood months of being poisoned by vengeful son Jamie, and most recently viewers watched in horror as Dawn drugged Kim with ketamine. But as Jamie and Dawn discovered, no one gets the better of Kim!

Ross Barton

Ross has always lived life on the edge, but has somehow never ended up six feet under.

The closest Ross came was back in 2015 when Pete beat him to near death in revenge for his affair with Debbie. The audience were led to believe Pete had killed Ross after they watched him dump his body in the woods. But several weeks later it was revealed Ross had survived the attack as he made a dramatic return.

Ross has also overcome a horrific acid attack which has left him scarred for life, and put his life on the line competing in underground boxing matches.

Lawrence White’s list of ‘almost’ deaths was impressive

Former lord of the manor Lawrence White finally used up his nine lives in 2018 and it was about time! The Emmerdale member’s list of near-death experiences suspended disbelief, even by the standards of the other characters.

During his three and a bit years in the Dales, Lawrence suffered five suspected heart attacks, two of which were confirmed. He was shot in the stomach by deranged grandson Lachlan, and should have bled to death, but didn’t.

Then in 2017, Lawrence’s life was left hanging in the balance after his foe Tim Richards tried to gas him in a car. Once again, Lawrence was rescued in the nick of time, by Lachlan of all people!

But his number was up when Lachlan deliberately ploughed the family’s car into an oncoming lorry. Lawrence – who was travelling in the backseat – was catapulted through the windscreen and died on impact.

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Read more: A complete list of everyone who’s lived at Home Farm

Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.

Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.

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