Alicya Eyo exits Emmerdale after Ruby dies in helicopter tragedy

Emmerdale star Alicya Eyo is the first victim of the wedding day helicopter disaster after her character Ruby died as a result of injuries sustained after the chopper crashed into the village hall.

Debbie Dingle and Pete Barton's ill-fated wedding reception was underway when the helicopter – a honeymoon treat from Pete for his new bride - was hit by an exploding gas canister, set alight after Chrissie Sugden torched husband Robert's sports car.

Ruby was a guest at the reception, standing in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Ruby first appeared in Emmerdale in 2011, the partner of Ali Spencer (Kelli Hollis). Initially the lesbian couple were unwelcome with many locals, but they became increasingly accepted during their months and years in the village. The couple were married in the village last year, despite Ali straying with her ex-husband Dan.

Will there be more casualties of the helicopter disaster?

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.