Home and Away: Xander and Nikau frantically attempt to save Millie from drowning – but will she survive?

Standing on the beach sand, Nikau watches as a woman enters the surf fully-clothed. He yells at her to stop and points to the “hazard surf conditions” sign above. A huge riptide has just been noted in the surf.

But she ignores him and goes in.

Suddenly, it’s all hands on deck to save her before she drowns.

This terrifying scene, which plays out in Home and Away this week, is all the more daunting when the woman is identified as Millie – the woman Xander (Luke Van Os) saved from a car crash just days earlier!

Her best friend Jo was killed in the accident and Millie (Zara Zoe) blames herself.

Xander has been her steady rock, but unable to live with the guilt, she escapes the hospital this week and heads to the beach…

“Xander feels the need to follow up on the patient after her friend’s death and continues to go above and beyond throughout her recovery,” Luke tells TV WEEK.

“The main focus is the empathy he feels for her and understanding what it feels like to lose someone close to you.”

Seeing Millie go under, lifeguard Nikau (Kawakawa Fox-Reo) calls for help over the radio, before stripping off racing out to help.

The waves are choppy and Millie struggles to keep her head above water.

With a rescue tube in hand, Nikau ducks in and out of the waves, searching.

Meanwhile, overhearing the distress call, John (Shane Withington) races down from the surf club to see Nikau dragging an unconscious Millie back to shore.

Xander and Jasmine (Sam Frost) arrive at the beach and witness Nikau with Millie. They’ve been searching for Millie since they were alerted to her escape.

Xander offers his services as a paramedic, before taking over chest compressions. Millie remains unresponsive causing Xander to become increasing desperate.

Jasmine watches on, concerned for her brother’s attachment.

Will Millie survive?