Emmerdale fans were left open-mouthed after yesterday’s dramatic episode led to countless lives hanging in the balance, as well as an unexpected discovery.

Things were looking bleak for the villagers in Charity Dingle’s (Emma Atkins) limo after she swerved off the road and crashed into a frozen lake.

With Suzy Merton (Martelle Edinborough) having died instantly in the crash, the race was on for the rest of the women and Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson) to get out safely.

Things seemed to be going to plan as Charity made it across the ice and headed off to call for help, and more of the villagers made it safely to the riverbank.

However, things took a horrifying turn when Amy Wyatt (Natalie Ann Jamieson) attempted to cross, but ended up falling through the ice and into the freezing water below.

As she fought to find her way back to the surface, she was horrified to realise that she wasn’t alone in the murky depths, as she came into contact with a decaying human body.

Viewers watched as Amy startled away from the human hand, and soon picked up on an identifying feature, which has left them believing they know whose body it is.

The decaying hand appeared to be wearing a distinctive bracelet, which fans very quickly recognised as looking identical to the one Nate Robinson (Jurell Carter) had been wearing before he left the village.

‘That’s Nate in the water.. not sure why or how but he defo had a bracelet like that frankie made him before he left,’ Ellie wrote on Twitter/X.

‘I reckon that was Nate’s hand!!!!!’ Dawn agreed, while Jade said: ‘Nate in the lake?

‘Looked like they were wearing one of Frankie’s bracelets, which the writers have made a point to show off lately. John wrapped Anthony up pretty well for it to be him.’

There are several other clues pointing to Nate being the body beneath the ice, including the fact that he disappeared in very bizarre circumstances.

At the time of his exit, Nate was planning on moving to Shetland, but we didn’t see him leave.

This left fans questioning if there was more to his exit than Emmerdale was letting on.

Furthermore, in a flash-forward at the beginning of the year, Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) was stood beside a grave, which fans now reckon might be Nate’s.

‘If it’s Nate, which seems highly likely, this future teaser scene now makes sense…’ Twitter/X user @spartacus2963 wrote, alongside a screenshot of Cain beside the grave.

‘All i’m gonna say is I think this is Nate’s grave Cain is standing over …’ @jaylorene agreed.

Could the body beneath the ice be Nate’s, and if so, how did it get there?