NEIGHBOURS fans have been left in bits as the Aussie soap killed off one of its most popular characters in a shock ending.
The show killed off the character of David Tanaka in a brutal clifftop death.
Played by Takaya Honda, the character became a firm favourite with fans ever since he joined the programme in 2016.
However, viewers of the Amazon show were left stunned to see that he had been killed off during dramatic scenes that saw him try and prevent another brutal attack from taking place.
A huge fight broke out between Eden and Leo that saw Eden attempt to kill David's brother by smashing a rock over his head.
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David threw himself to intervene as he battled with Eden before the pair tumbled over the cliffside.
He later convinced everyone to help Eden receive medical treatment first in order to allow him to survive but by the time they had returned to David, he had sadly passed away.
Speaking about exiting the soap, Takaya revealed that it was always his intention and confessed that he had been considering exiting the role since 2021.
He had told bosses about his thoughts before the show was first axed and later revealed he agreed to come back to the reboot in order to give his character a deserved ending.
He told TV Tonight: “They said to me, ‘We know you don’t want to come back long term, but would you be interested in coming back just to help finish off the character of David?'”
“I was very keen for that because whilst I loved the ending of that first chapter of the show I’d always wanted and felt like David had deserved his own ending. I guess, it gives me a bit of closure too on the character so I was very keen to come back.
“Once I heard what the storyline was, I thought they’d done an amazing job of finishing off what is David’s arc as a character, from when he started to where he ends.
“I thought it was so well tied in with what David’s been through, but who he is as a person that it felt like a true ending for the character.”
He enjoyed a slew of popular storylines over the years including a steamy romance with Brit actor Ryan Thomas' character Rafael Humphreys during the former Corrie star's time on the soap in 2018.
David went on to marry Aaron Brennen after his romance with Rafael broke down and they went on to have daughter Isla together.
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His final scene saw Aaron listen to a voice note recorded by David before he passed which was intertwined on-screen with David recording the loving message for his adoring husband.
He also admitted that his death scene was not the final scene he acted out as a day later he joined forces with on-screen father Stefan Dennis, who plays Paul Robinson, which was screened in an earlier episode.
Fans have been left in disbelief over the shocking death and took to social media to share their horror at one of the show's biggest characters meeting his end.
Writing online, one fan said: "What an amazing yet incredibly heartbreaking episode of #Neighbours!
"Beautiful performances by all the cast but that scene of Aaron listening to David’s voice message with it cutting to him recording it - just wow."
Another penned: "Well done to everyone involved in today's heartbreaking, but beautifully conducted episode of #Neighbours!
"@takayahonda Thank You for the years you gave playing David so magnificently! I'll miss you both very, very much. RIP David Tanaka!"
A third then said: "THANK YOU Takaya for bringing David to life for the past 8 years. You quickly became a much-loved part of Erinsborough, and this ending is absolutely heartbreaking for David & Daaron fans everywhere."
Before a fourth sobbed: "Jane saying the words "David died" has actually tipped me over the edge."
Whilst a fifth penned: "David left Aaron a goodbye voice message this finished me off as if I wasn’t already an emotional wreck screw you #Neighbours for ripping my heart out and stamping all over it."
