Home and Away star Emily Weir explains Mac's reaction to tragic death

"She's absolutely devastated."

Home and Away spoilers follow for UK viewers.

Home and Away star Emily Weir has spoken to Digital Spy about her character Mackenzie Booth's reaction to the death of Ari Parata.

Recent episodes on UK screens have explored how the tragic loss of Ari has affected his family and the wider Summer Bay community.

In this week's scenes on Channel 5, Mac reflects on everything that was unresolved between her and Ari before he died.

The pair were once a couple, but they split up last year after Ari reconnected with his ex-partner Mia Anderson.

Emily told Digital Spy: "Mac is absolutely and completely grief-stricken. It was interesting to have that dynamic.

"I think with what Ari and Mac had, there was something safe about him for her. Not in a romantic or sexual sense – he was just a really good man, and they had a connection that obviously didn't last, but she had so much respect for him.

"Losing him was such a shock. She is confused as to why she is so overwhelmed with grief, but I think it's because she had such a strong friendship connection with him."

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She continued: "I don't think in the end, Mac had anything bad to say about Ari, even though their relationship ended badly. She was pregnant with his child and all that emotion and grief brings back the memories of the ectopic pregnancy.

"It's a very complex grief that she'd never experienced before. She's absolutely devastated."

In scenes airing tonight (April 19) on 5STAR's first look and tomorrow (April 20) on Channel 5, Mac's brother Dean Thompson tries to give her a different perspective on the situation.