Emmerdale spoilers: Is this major Dingle character being killed off?

During last night's show, Emmerdale cast Zak Dingle showed some worrying health issues as he continuously coughed throughout the episode.

He and his family are having to resort to desperate measures in order to save their home, and it seems to be taking its toll on the head of the family.

The characters have been taking it in turns to sleep out in the cold to protect their farm after they learned that Tom Waterhouse and his company are attempting to destroy it.

As he argued with a surveyor who turned up to run some checks on the land, Zak couldn't stop coughing into his handkerchief.

Lisa begged her husband to calm down and sleep inside for the sake of his health, but to avail.

Zak insisted that he was fine, but it seems that there is something more serious going on.

He is set to be diagnosed with a chest infection, but will his stress escalate this into something more?

The soap veteran has been on the ITV show for 23 years, making him one of the longest running stars.

Is this the start of a shock exit for the fan favourite?

Let's hope Zak manages to both pull through and save his beloved home.

Emmerdale continues tonight at 7pm on ITV.