The world of Home and Away has been rocked by an emotional storm this week, as a cruel wave of online misinformation forced beloved alum

Lynne McGranger — forever remembered by many fans as the unforgettable Colleen Smart — to confront rumors of her own death. In an era where social media

can turn whispers into headlines within minutes, the false reports spread rapidly, catching viewers off guard and prompting an outpouring of grief before anyone

had paused to check the facts. Tributes began appearing across fan pages. Messages of heartbreak flooded timelines. For a brief, bewildering moment, many believed Summer Bay had lost one of its most iconic residents.

But the truth, as it turns out, is far less tragic — and far more in keeping with the sharp humor audiences have adored for decades.

“No, I’m not dead,” McGranger declared, cutting through the panic with the kind of wit Colleen herself would have delivered. Yes, she acknowledged, the day will inevitably come for everyone, but it is certainly not today. With playful candor, she even joked about still enjoying her red wine, proving she remains very much alive and gloriously herself.

The relief among fans was immediate. Yet beneath the laughter sits a more unsettling reality: death hoaxes are becoming disturbingly common, and their emotional impact can be profound.

A Community Whiplashed by Grief

For many viewers, Home and Away is not just a television series. It is a ritual, a shared history, a place where characters feel like extended family. When news — even false news — breaks that a familiar face has died, the reaction is visceral.

That is precisely why these hoaxes are so damaging.

Within hours of the rumor surfacing, fans who had grown up with Colleen Smart were mourning her. Some revisited favorite scenes. Others shared personal memories of meeting McGranger or being comforted by the character’s comic presence during difficult times in their own lives.

Then came the abrupt pivot from grief to confusion to anger.

How could something so easily disproven spiral so far, so fast?

An Unwelcome Trend

McGranger is far from alone. In recent months, fabricated stories have targeted several Home and Away favorites, dragging respected performers into frightening narratives about deaths or life-threatening illnesses. Each time, the cycle repeats: shock, sadness, frantic verification, and finally relief tinged with frustration.

For actors, it can be deeply unsettling to watch the world react to news of your demise while you are sitting at home, very much alive, perhaps making tea or reading a script.

Friends and relatives see the posts too. Phones start ringing. Panic ripples outward.

It is not harmless gossip; it is emotional upheaval.

Colleen Smart’s Enduring Power

Part of why the rumor hit so hard is because Colleen remains etched into the DNA of the show. For years, she was Summer Bay’s resident busybody, moral commentator, and accidental comedian. Her talent for gossip, her flair for drama, and her impeccable timing made her a constant source of exasperation — and affection.

Residents rolled their eyes at her meddling, yet the Bay would have felt emptier without her.

Even after her final appearance, new generations of viewers continue to discover her through reruns and online clips. Her legacy persists, vibrant and hilarious.

To imagine that voice silenced was, for many, simply too painful.

The Return Question

Whenever a former star makes headlines, speculation inevitably follows: could this mean a comeback?

McGranger, ever honest, poured gentle cold water on the idea. While she appreciates the love and remains grateful for the years she spent on the show, she feels that chapter of her life has closed. Time moves on, bodies change, and the grind of television production is demanding.

There is no bitterness in her answer — only realism, wrapped in humor.

But in true soap fashion, “never” is a dangerous word. Even the faintest possibility is enough to keep hope alive in fan circles, where dream returns are discussed with passionate detail.

Another Almost-Reunion

Interestingly, McGranger’s comments arrive amid renewed chatter about other familiar faces. Rebecca Breeds, who played Ruby Buckton, recently revealed there was once a genuine opportunity for her to reprise the role in a storyline overseas. Scheduling conflicts ultimately prevented it, but the admission confirmed what fans have long suspected: producers are always thinking about how to weave history back into the present.

It is part of what keeps Home and Away feeling alive. The past is never entirely gone.

Beyond the Rumor

What lingers after the dust settles is gratitude. Gratitude that McGranger is safe. Gratitude that her humor remains intact. Gratitude that the woman who gave life to Colleen can still surprise everyone with a perfectly delivered punchline.

Yet the incident also serves as a reminder of responsibility in the digital age. A single unverified post can ricochet across the globe, leaving real people to clean up the emotional wreckage.

Summer Bay Moves Forward

As production continues and new dramas unfold for the current cast, the Bay carries its history with it — the laughter, the heartbreak, the legends who helped build it.

Colleen Smart is one of those legends.

She may not be strolling down the pier anytime soon, but her spirit lingers in every outrageous rumor, every wagging finger, every moment of comic chaos that makes audiences smile.

And if this week has proven anything, it is that fans are not ready to say goodbye to her — not now, and hopefully not for a very long time.

For the moment, at least, Lynne McGranger is exactly where she should be: alive, outspoken, and still able to stop Summer Bay in its tracks with a single line.