Heartbreaking moment beloved Coronation Street favourite dies after being brutally attacked
The police officer – who is played by actor Colson Smith in the ITV soap – tried to arrest evil Mick after finding him behind the wheel of his van apparently drunk.
Hapless Craig ended up botching the arrest and giving Mick time to go back to his van and grab a baseball bat before he even realised he was gone.
Mick mercilessly beat Craig before leaving him at the side of the road with his skull cracked open.
He was found by Maria who called an ambulance and sat with him until it arrived.
Shaken, she had Sarah for support and later went to find other people to give them the news.
And when she finally found her brother Kirk – Craig’s former stepdad – she rushed him to the hospital to find out what was happening.
But when they walked into the room, Craig began to seizure.
Doctors rushed in to save him but despite trying their best, nothing could be done.
We’re not going to be able to reverse anything here. I suggest we stop, anyone disagree? No. Time of death 19.25.”
Devastated Maria, Jess, Kirk and Asha watched as Craig was pronounced dead and covered with a sheet.
It marks the end of actor Colson Smith’s 14 years on the cobbles.
Coronation Street favourite left for dead in brutal attack after actor is axed from soap
The Sun exclusively revealed how his character was being killed off.
A source told us: “Craig has grown up on the street and he’s become part of it so it was a tough decision to make but one that will be worth it.
“PC Tinker will meet his maker in heroic circumstances this summer and there won’t be a dry eye in the house when it goes out.
“Colson is taking it well and there’s a real feeling that this chapter is closing for him and there are bigger and brighter things ahead.”
The star marked his soap exit with a wild, booze-fuelled leaving bash.
The police themed party paid homage to his character PC Tinker and featured fancy dress, balloons and police tape at the tapas bar and restaurant El Gato Negro Tapas in Manchester.
Many of Colson’s Corrie co-stars attended full of smiles including Andy Whyment, Brooke Vincent, Georgia Taylor, Lucy Fallon, Jacobs Roberts, Tony Maudsley and Sam Aston.
