EastEnders fans have been left relieved after Phil Mitchell’s (Steve McFadden) life was inadvertently saved by an unexpected character.

Phil has been battling depression in recent months and made plans to take his own life in last night’s episode.

In emotional scenes, he prepared letters for his family and loaded a bullet into his gun, before locking it in his safe.

Later, an erratic Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) demanded to borrow the weapon, determined to get revenge on the person who attacked her.

She told Phil how she suspected that Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) was behind her attack, and would kill her if she didn’t get to him first.

Phil outright refused to hand the gun over, insisting that Cindy couldn’t be trusted with it.

However, that didn’t stop Cindy, who snuck into Phil’s house and stole the gun herself, before heading back to No.45 to face off with her attacker.

When Phil returned home and went straight to the safe, he was shocked to find the gun missing.

Fans were overwhelmingly relieved by Cindy’s actions, praising her on social media for inadvertently saving Phil’s life.

‘Cindy indirectly saved Phil by taking his gun,’ Twitter/X user @TVthings_2 pointed out.

‘Cindy stealing Phil’s gun and ultimately saving his life was the redemption she needed,’ Shireen added.

‘When you deeply realise that Cindy taking the gun has basically kept Phil Mitchell alive,’ @APxLFC shared, alongside a celebratory GIF.

Sean agreed, writing: ‘I’m relieved Cindy took the gun, since Phil was on the brink of doing something terrible.’

‘I’m gonna say it now – it was worth bringing Cindy back for the sole reason that she has just inadvertently saved Phil’s life…’ David Penned.

Later this week, Phil’s loved ones are set to stage an intervention when Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) grows worried that he may be a danger to himself.

Elsewhere, we finally discover the identity of Cindy’s attacker as it is revealed who is holding the locket at the other end of the gun.