Dying Paul breaks down in tears after another devastating setback in Coronation Street

Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) has suffered a devastating physical setback in Coronation Street tonight (June 12th) as his ‘daughter’ Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) returned home from America.

Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank) was thrilled at her impending arrival, but Paul less so as he was about to be fitted with life-changing Eyegaze software.

Eyegaze, a programme which allows its users to create spoken sentences through the use of eye movements, will assist Paul when his motor neurone disease results in him unable to talk.

Ever the joker, he prepared a sentence to speak out as Summer walked in – but she was spooked to think his condition had rapidly worsened.

Earlier this week, Paul was warned that soon he may be unable to use the stair lift in their flat and therefore would be housebound. In emotional scenes, we saw him relish in the rainfall and plead with Billy to stay outside for fears he would soon be unable to.

Those fears were realised tonight, when Summer suggested they head to the Viaduct Bistro for a meal to meet her new boyfriend Felix (Robin Morrissey).

As Billy searched for his phone, Paul headed downstairs on the lift and suddenly fell to the ground – unable to support the weight of his body.

Dr Gaddas (Christine Mackie) checked him over and warned that he may be bruised and should seek further medical attention at the hospital, but Paul was adamant to stay at home for Summer’s sake.

When she returned, with Felix in tow, things suddenly turned very awkward and the atmosphere frosty as he relished in the fact Paul’s condition was one he’d studied whilst at university.

The dads, alongside Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce), were also alarmed by the age gap between the two and his boasts about being a neuroscientist.

At the end of the evening, Billy suggested a move to a more accessible flat, but Paul worried about being away from his family in his final months. As the two broke out in tears, it became apparent that his death could be sooner than they thought.