Coronation Street's Ryan Connor will end up in a coma following a tragic death on the soap.
The Weatherfield wally - played by Ryan Prescott - is to become involved with drug dealers in a terrifying new plot which will see him fight for his life following an explosive car crash, after he and mum Michelle Connor (Kym Marsh) cover up a death.
A source said: "Michelle tries to cover up a death after a friend of Ryan's named Cormack has a fatal drugs overdose in his flat.
"Ryan doesn't do anything to help save his pal's life because it was his pills he took."
Michelle and Ryan look set to end up in hot water when she asks Sophie Webster (Brooke Vincent) and her son Ali Neeson (James Burrows) to provide them with an alibi - but Sophie gets cold feet, and the situation could be life-ending for Ryan.
The source added to The Sun's Bizarre TV column: "It looks like Ryan has got in with the wrong crowd.
"It's going to culminate in a high-speed crash which leaves him in a coma fighting for his life."
The storyline looks set to see dark plots continue on the soap following the arrival of new series producer Iain MacLeod.
The former 'Emmerdale' boss recently took over from Kate Oates - who has joined 'EastEnders' - and she previously came under fire from several fans and celebrities over her hard-hitting 'Corrie' stories.
TV presenter and cobbles super-fan Paul O'Grady recently described 'Corrie' as being like a "Quentin Tarantino movie", and he compared the show to war-torn Syria.
Recent plots have included evil Pat Phelan (Connor McIntyre) going on a killing spree, and Josh Tucker (Ryan Clayton) raping David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd).
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