RUMOR CONTROL: Reports of Home and Away Star Suffering Stroke Labeled as Hoax

Alarming reports circulating on social media and certain news blogs claiming a Home and Away actor has suffered a stroke and is in critical condition are not true.

The link in question originates from a site known for spreading unverified celebrity news and “engagement bait.” Fact-checking organizations, including AAP FactCheck, have recently flagged a wave of similar death and disease hoaxes targeting the stars of the Seven Network soap opera.

Key Facts Regarding Recent Cast Health Rumors:

• Ray Meagher (Alf Stewart): While the actor has had real-life heart surgeries in the past (most recently a triple bypass in 2019 and a stent in 2020), he is currently healthy and active. His character, Alf, also suffered a stroke in a 2016 storyline, which is often repurposed by these websites to create misleading “current” headlines.

• Ada Nicodemou (Leah Patterson): Recent claims that she was diagnosed with a terminal illness have been confirmed as completely false. The actress remains active on social media and is in good health.

• Alea O’Shea (Darcy Callahan): In a legitimate health update from late 2024/early 2025, former star Alea O’Shea did share her diagnosis of brain cancer with fans. However, this is unrelated to the “critical stroke” headlines currently being used as clickbait.

Fans are encouraged to rely on verified news outlets like 7News, TV Week, or the actors’ official social media accounts for accurate information. These “shocking” reports are designed to trick readers into clicking links that often lead to advertisement-heavy or malicious websites.