Why did Patrick have to die?

Patrick Reid (Matt Le Nevez) &Nina Proudman (Asher Keddie) Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Matt Le Nevez as Patrick in Offspring Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

CHANNEL 10, how could you?

The sudden death of anaesthetist Patrick Reid, the handsome partner of Nina Proudman on the Channel 10 drama Offspring, has sent Australian women into a spin and tissue boxes into overdrive.

He's back! Patrick to return in a future Offspring episode

Patrick, played by Matthew Le Nevez, has been a favourite with viewers. Ten had promoted the fact that Patrick, Nina's sister Billie (Kat Stewart) or brother Jimmy (Richard Davies) were set to be killed off.

Here are 10 reasons why you picked the wrong guy, Channel 10.

1. Patrick's death has left Nina facing life as a single parent and now relying on her dysfunctional family to help raise her child. Think of the children, Channel 10! It's unfair and a little cruel to leave any child relying on that neurotic family for anything - let alone any sort of guidance. Plus if Nina dies the child will be left an orphan and under the Proudman family guidance - permanently.

2. The loss of Patrick will send half the nation's population into a national day of mourning. Think of all that lost productivity as women everywhere call in sick to work for the rest of the week or perhaps less dramatically simply fail to function. Channel 10, Australian women may take a while to forgive you for this one.

Kate Reid (Kate Jenkinson) and Nina Proudman (Asher Keddie). Picture: Supplied / Ten

3. The environment will also suffer as thousands more trees are felled to make millions of boxes of tissues. Less trees means more carbon in the environment and less good air to breathe. Asthmatics everywhere rejoice.

4. Patrick's death has caused a minor backlash even within Channel 10 ranks. The Project co-host Carrie Bickmore may not grace us with her cheery smile for a while and warned TV viewers tonight: "If they kill off Patrick I'll never watch Offspring again." Even Rove McManus joked on The Week Live that he found it hard to be on air after the network killed off the favourite character.

Offspring fans favorite actor Patrick has died after hitting his head. Courtesy Channel Ten Offspring

How it happened: Read more on the death episode which Le Nevez says will leave viewers grieving

5. The loss of Nina's partner and father of her child means she will be back on the single market again. We already had to deal with her losing him once during their break-up, now we relive it all. Again. Plus a single Nina is painful enough, let alone a single mother Nina.

6. Twitter hell: Social media will suffer as the Twittersphere fails to cope with the shock realisation that there is no more Patrick. In short, refer to Twitter if you can get through hundreds of angry tweets.

7. Offspring will lose its best-looking character so far. Half of Australia will officially have no-one to drool over on Wednesday nights now. Oh, the humanity.

Nina faces the devastating news. Picture: Supplied / Ten Source: Supplied

8. The loss of Patrick leaves us asking why him? Billie with her constant insecurities and Jimmy with his never-grow-up attitude would have been better losses for Nina as opposed to the father of her child. Now with Patrick out of her life, she will have to rely on her unreliable siblings for support. Billie can't even hold down a parking attendant job while Jimmy can't even raise his own baby let alone his older sister's, while mother Geraldine is more interested in holding a glass of wine and a joint than a baby.

9. Patrick's sister Kate won't have her big brother around to protect her from violent partners, and her child Isabella won't have her uncle around to step in as a role model dad.

10. Offspring has lost its only broody, and sometimes mysterious character. The Proudmans are a pretty open bunch so Patrick's moodiness adds depth and difference to a show which this season hasn't appeared to hit the mark with critics as much as in previous years.

And the fury was unleashed on Twitter faster than Billie to a drink, with many threatening not to watch next season's show.

And it wasn't just the women who were angry:

What did you think about this episode of Offspring? Comment below or continue the conversation on Twitter | @newscomauHQ