Emmerdale viewers 'work out' who rescues Mackenzie Boyd but it's not Aaron or Robert

Emmerdale fans have speculated that someone will arrive and save Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb), but it won't be Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) or Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller). Friday's (September 5) instalment of the ITV soap featured no signs of Mack, with some convinced that John finished him off once and for all. Last night's episode concluded with John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) approaching Mack with an axe, moments after he believed someone had turned up just in time to rescue him.

Prior to this, Paddy Dingle (Dominic Brunt) finally realised that John has been the person he has been speaking to on the helpline, leaving him concerned for what he might do to himself and Aaron. After attempting and failing to confide in Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson), Paddy turned to Robert and voiced his worries during tonight's episode. This has left fans speculating whether Paddy could be the person who saves Mack from the clutches of John.

One wrote: "Will the axe fall on mack on #emmerdale or will Paddy arrive to save the day? Tense or what?!!!!"

Another penned: "Maybe Mack was hallucinating and it wasn't actually John's van? Paddy needs to come and save the day."

Echoing this theory, a third shared: "I think it was a passerby who picked him up too and he was hallucinating."

A fourth agreed: "Could that van belong to Paddy and John was hallucinating?"

Others believe that Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) could be the one who rescues Mackenzie.

One posted: "Someone actually thinks that Bear might save Mack, which I didn't really think about as he is living in his car."

A second wrote: "That was the perfect opportunity to reintroduce Bear. He could have been the one to find Mack but no let's go with this Johnny comes back again to finish him with an axe."

Another echoed: "After seeing today's #Emmerdale I'm now thinking it's Bear who finds Mack possibly unconscious and takes him to hospital where he is placed in an induced coma."

Fans will recall that Bear left the village in July after falling out with Paddy, who kicked him out. It was later revealed that Bear had been living in his car.

At the end of tonight's episode, a disorientated Aaron realised that John has been drugging him. When urged to drink water given to him by John, Aaron hesitated.

Despite being suspicious of his husband, Aaron was not prepared for the discovery he was about to make. Searching under a pile of clothes, Aaron found Mack's phone in John's possessions.

Reminded of Mackenzie's voice earlier in the day, Aaron realised that it really was his best friend calling out for help.