Home and Away’s Andrew Lawrence (Joshua Hewson) recently bid farewell to Summer Bay with the woman he thinks is his mother.
When Esther Lawrence (Mandy McElhinney) arrived and reunited with her son, Andrew was hesitant at first but soon came round and shared an emotional goodbye with Justin Morgan (James Stewart) and Leah Patterson (Ada Nicodemou).
But at the end of Friday’s episode (July 14), Cash Newman made the alarming discovery that the woman they sent Andrew home with is not his mother – in fact they have no idea who she is.
READ MORE: Home and Away’s Emily Symons floors fans in throwback snap as fans praise ageless beauty
As Andrew is held hostage by the infamous Vita Nova cult, Daily Star has looked back at some of the soap’s most explosive kidnap plots.
Murder in self-defence
When Dr Bree Cameron (Juliet Godwin) arrived in the Bay in 2022, it wasn’t long before her dark past came back to haunt her.
It was revealed Summer Bay’s resident doctor was trapped in an abusive marriage with Jacob Cameron (Alex Williams), culminating in him kidnapping Bree and holding her hostage in a remote location.
At the makeshift campsite, Bree tried her best to appear upbeat while being held against her will, with Jacob revealing he was planning to create new identities to help then begin a new life.
With little hope left, Bree began writing a letter to Remi Carter (Adam Rowland), expressing her true feelings and confirming it was him she was in love with.
But when Jacob discovered the letter, his anger took over and he struck Bree over the head, knocking her out.
When the doctor came to, she watched as Jacob was digging her grave.
As Jacob briefly dropped the spade, Bree snuck up behind him and smacked him around the head with it, unintentionally killing him.
The police came to the conclusion that Bree acted in self-defence, dropping all charges against her in the investigation.
Jasmine’s impossible demand
Jasmine Delaney’s (Sam Frost) life was far from simple after she started dating Robbo (Jake Ryan).
Robbo’s enemies from the past made their way to Summer Bay and intercepted Jasmine on her way to the airport, killing her protection officer Scott (Trent Baines) before bundling her into the back of a car.
The doctor was then held hostage in an abandoned warehouse by Des (Matt Zeremes) and his two accomplices Lenny and Fitz.
During the kidnapping, Lenny was shot by Scott before he died and Jasmine explained he needed urgent medical attention otherwise he would die.
Refusing to take Lenny to the hospital, Des told Jasmine it was up to her to save him otherwise she would die.
Robbo eventually saved Jasmine, but he later died from injuries sustained in a car accident caused by his enemies.
‘Most shocking storyline to date’
(Image: channel 5)
Back in 2020, long-running character Leah Patterson disappeared without a trace after receiving a mystery phone call.
After Justin contacted the police, they revealed they had spoken to Leah who insisted she was fine and left her partner by choice.
Later, Justin received a call from Leah who claimed she had moved on with her life and no longer wanted anything to do with him.
(Image: channel 5)
It was later revealed Leah was being held hostage by a violent man named Douglas, who’s wife left him after watching a video on Leah’s blog about domestic violence.
In a shocking turn of events, Douglas presented Leah with a wedding dress and told her they would be getting married the next day.
Leah managed to escape after attacking Douglas, running into the woods in her wedding gown before reuniting with Justin.
Left in desert to die
(Image: channel 5)
Back in 2012, Kyle Braxton caused mayhem when he kidnapped Casey Braxton (Lincoln Younes) and held him hostage in the desert.
Kyle, played by Nic Westaway, chained Casey to an abandoned vehicle in the remote Australian outback with no food or water.
He eventually revealed his motive behind the evil scheme was because Casey had shot and killed their father Danny (Andy McPhee) and went back to his normal life afterwards.
(Image: channel 5)
Danny walked out on Kyle and he was placed into foster care, later developing a vendetta against his half-brothers after his father’s death.
Kyle abandoned Casey and left him to die, but he was saved by Tamara Kingsley (Kelly Paterniti) before his older brother Daryl ‘Brax’ Braxton (Steve Peacock) saved them.
Surprisingly, Kyle returned to Summer Bay and eventually formed a close relationship with his half-brothers.
Held hostage by own son
Fan favourite character Irene Roberts (Lynne McGranger) vanished in 2016 with no word to her friends back in the Bay.
After months off-screen, viewers were finally given an insight into her suffering and it was revealed she was being held hostage by Mick – the man who claimed to be her long-lost son.
Irene was being held in a derelict house, having to obey Mick’s every demand.
Heading back to the Bay, Mick then set his sights on Irene’s lodger Olivia, who becomes more concerned about Irene’s safety.
When he tried to kidnap Olivia, he told her she would never see Irene again if she didn’t get in the car.
The incident only made Mick more angry and he proceeded to drag Irene through the bushland with a piece of rope.
It was revealed Irene was raped at 15 by her uncle and she fell pregnant with Mick, who she gave up immediately after birth.
Mick blamed Irene for his unhinged state, explaining he was brought up in an abusive foster home after she gave him away.
As he prepared to move Irene to a new location, she eventually escaped and he was caught by police.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
