A deeply emotional storyline is about to unfold in Home and Away, as one of Summer Bay’s most beloved residents faces a frightening health scare that nearly results in a devastating accident.

Longtime fan favorite Irene Roberts finds herself shaken to the core next week after a series of troubling memory lapses escalate into a moment that could have ended in disaster.

For weeks, subtle warning signs have hinted that something isn’t right with Irene. What initially seemed like harmless forgetfulness has gradually evolved into something far

more concerning—leaving both Irene and those closest to her increasingly worried about what might be happening. But in the coming episodes, Irene will experience a terrifying wake-up call that forces her to confront a reality she has been desperately trying to avoid.

A Secret Irene Tried to Ignore

The first signs of trouble appeared when Irene began confiding in close friend John about unusual moments of confusion. Over the past few weeks, she admitted she had experienced several strange incidents that she couldn’t explain.

One of the most alarming moments occurred when Irene suddenly found herself standing in the middle of her garden late at night, still wearing her nightgown—with absolutely no recollection of how she got there. The experience left her shaken and unsettled, but she hoped it was simply a one-off moment of exhaustion or stress.

When she opened up to John about these worrying symptoms, he reacted with understandable concern. Rather than brushing it off, he gently suggested that Irene should consider speaking to a doctor and getting professional advice.

But the suggestion didn’t land the way John expected.

Instead of reassurance, Irene heard confirmation of her worst fears. The possibility that something serious might be wrong was more than she was ready to face. Wanting to hold onto the belief that everything was normal, she quickly shut the conversation down and asked John to drop the subject entirely.

Unfortunately, ignoring the problem will only make the situation more dangerous.

A Household Scare Raises Alarm

The first real warning sign for those around Irene arrives at the beach house when Dana returns home to an unsettling sight. Walking into the living room, she immediately notices the ironing board standing in the middle of the room as though someone had been using it earlier.

At first, it seems like a harmless oversight.

But when Dana reaches to move the iron, she suddenly cries out in pain. The appliance is still scorching hot—and it quickly becomes clear that it has been left switched on for hours.

Shocked and nursing a painful burn on her hand, Dana rushes to the sink to run it under cold water.

Moments later, Irene arrives home and is startled to find Dana standing at the kitchen sink holding her injured hand. As Dana explains what happened with the iron, she quickly assumes someone else must be responsible.

Her first guess is Harper.

Blaming what she jokingly calls “baby brain,” Dana suggests Harper must have forgotten to switch it off earlier.

But Irene’s reaction reveals something far more troubling.

As the realization dawns on her that she may have been the one who left the iron on, Irene grows visibly shaken. The incident is another disturbing reminder that her memory lapses may be more serious than she wants to admit.

Tension in the House

When Harper later enters the room and is immediately confronted by Dana’s accusations, she’s completely baffled.

She insists she never touched the iron.

Before the disagreement can escalate further, Irene steps in to shut the argument down, clearly uncomfortable with the direction the conversation is heading.

Just then, John arrives at the house to pick Irene up for a dinner date the two had planned.

As Dana explains what happened with the iron, John quickly pieces together the situation. It becomes clear to him that Harper isn’t responsible at all.

Though he doesn’t immediately voice his suspicions, the look on his face suggests he already fears the truth: Irene’s memory issues may be getting worse.

A Terrifying Near-Miss

The next day brings an even more frightening moment.

Following a tense conversation with Tane after his recent return from Japan, Harper decides she needs some time to clear the air with him. Before leaving, she asks Irene if she would mind babysitting baby Archie for a while.

Irene warmly agrees, excited at the chance to spend time with the infant.

But shortly afterward, something alarming happens.

Preparing to head out of the house, Irene grabs her handbag and makes her way toward the door. She’s just seconds away from stepping outside when she suddenly hears the sound of a baby crying.

Confused, Irene pauses.

The sound is coming from inside the house.

Following the cries, she enters Harper’s bedroom and discovers baby Archie lying there alone.

For a moment, Irene is puzzled—unsure why the baby is in the house or how he got there.

Then she checks her phone.

A message from Harper appears on the screen, thanking Irene again for agreeing to babysit.

In that instant, Irene’s blood runs cold.

She has absolutely no memory of the conversation.

The horrifying realization hits her: she had been moments away from leaving the house, completely forgetting that she was responsible for looking after Archie.

A Turning Point for Irene

The near-disaster leaves Irene deeply shaken.

What if she had left the house without hearing Archie cry? What if the baby had been left alone for hours?

The thought is almost too much for her to bear.

For someone who has spent years being the steady, reliable heart of Summer Bay, the idea that she might be losing control over her memory is terrifying.

But the incident may also become the wake-up call Irene desperately needs.

After weeks of denial and attempts to dismiss her symptoms, the frightening close call forces her to confront a difficult truth: something is wrong, and ignoring it is no longer an option.

As this emotional storyline unfolds, fans will watch closely to see whether Irene finally decides to seek the medical help she has been avoiding.

One thing is certain—Summer Bay’s beloved matriarch is facing one of the most frightening challenges of her life, and the road ahead may be far from easy.