In upcoming episodes, a football game between the Flying House and Rovers Return teams from Coronation Street ends tragically, leaving James Bailey (Nathan Graham) fighting for his life.
James, who entered the game after a fight between Dev (Jimmi Harkishin) and Tim (Joe Duttine), rushes to assist the Rovers as the Flying Horse takes the lead. His heart has stopped beating when he suddenly collapses, and Ed (Trevor Michael Georges) hurriedly runs onto the field to begin CPR.
James is taken urgently to the hospital, where he is informed that he has cardiomyopathy.
He will be fitted with an electronic device to help prevent further arrests, and as his mother Aggie (Lorna Laidlaw) anxiously awaits the results, she sobs, he is wheeled off to the theater.
James is advised to take it easy after his surgery, and Aggie is hoping he’ll give up football to look after his health. Aggie is terrified by the thought that her son might be putting his life in danger every time he plays a game when he says he can’t imagine a life without football and that he plans to get back on the field as soon as possible.
She tries to hide her worries because she knows that James relies on football to make his life worthwhile.
Will James’ bold choice result in tragedy?