Abi Branning dies in EastEnders after falling from the roof of the Queen Vic on Christmas Day, suffering catastrophic injuries that leave her brainstem dead; her family later make the heartbreaking decision to switch off her life support in January 2018.

How did Abi die?

Abi is badly injured when she and her sister Lauren fall from the roof of the Queen Victoria pub while trying to stop their dad Max from jumping during the 2017 Christmas episodes.

Lauren survives with less serious injuries, but Abi, who is heavily pregnant at the time, sustains fatal head trauma and is declared brainstem dead in hospital.

Hospital, baby and life support

Doctors deliver her baby girl prematurely by caesarean section and the baby survives, later being named Abi in her mother’s honour.

Medics then tell the Branning family that Abi has no chance of recovery, leading to highly emotional scenes where her life support is finally withdrawn and she passes away in January 2018.

In-story impact and reaction

Max initially refuses to accept that Abi is gone and clings to hope, which creates tense, emotional clashes with Lauren and the rest of the family.

Fans have continued to discuss the storyline on forums, debating whether the writing did justice to Abi’s long history on the show and how other characters reacted to her death afterward.

Mini recap of key points

  • Fall from the Queen Vic roof on Christmas Day 2017.
  • Declared brainstem dead in hospital after severe head injuries.
  • Baby daughter delivered early and survives.
  • Life support turned off; Abi dies in January 2018 episodes.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.