In devastating news that has sent shockwaves through the Home and Away community, beloved fictional actor Evan Carlisle, known to millions for his warm, steady portrayal of Summer Bay’s resident paramedic Mason Holt, tragically passed away early this morning. He was just 42.

Sources close to the production have confirmed that Carlisle died unexpectedly at his Sydney home after what is being described as a “sudden and catastrophic medical event.” Paramedics were called shortly after 6 a.m., but he could not be revived. His family released a brief statement mid-morning, requesting privacy during what they called “an unimaginable time of grief.”

Colleagues, still reeling from the news, say Evan had been in the middle of filming some of the most emotionally challenging scenes of his career—storylines fans were eagerly awaiting, now forever marked by tragedy. A crew member, speaking on the condition of anonymity, shared that Evan had seemed “a little tired” in recent weeks but dismissed it as stress from long filming days. “He never complained,” the source said. “He was the kind of actor who carried everyone else when things got hard. None of us ever imagined something like this.”

Producers met with cast and crew in an emergency briefing this morning, offering grief counselling and halting production for at least 48 hours. A spokesperson for the show said, “Evan was one of the most dedicated, generous, and quietly brilliant actors to ever walk into the Bay. We are shattered.”

Fans have flooded social media with tributes, many remembering Evan’s gentle, deeply human performances and the emotional authenticity he brought to the series. Messages are pouring in from around the world—viewers who grew up watching him, who felt comforted by the empathy of his character, and who saw him as the heart of Summer Bay’s emergency services.

Close friend and co-star Aria Donovan, who plays Dr. Lila Forrester, issued a tearful statement thanking fans for their compassion. “Evan wasn’t just a colleague,” she said. “He was the soul of our little family. He listened, he cared, he made every scene better simply by being in it. I don’t know how we move forward, but we will hold tightly to the love he left behind.”

Industry insiders say writers will take substantial time to determine how to handle his character’s storyline, stressing that any decision will be made with “the utmost respect for Evan, his family, and his extraordinary work.”

As tributes continue to pour in, one thing is heartbreakingly clear: Summer Bay—and the world of Australian television—will never quite be the same. Evan Carlisle’s sudden passing leaves a void no rewrite can ever truly fill.