Home and Away's Xander Delaney struggles after a life-changing decision

 The paramedic pushes himself too far as he recovers from his attack.

Home and Away's Xander Delaney will face further struggles next week, following his huge decision to leave behind his job as a paramedic.

Xander recently experienced a horrific incident while on a shift, when he and his ambulance partner Jamie were ambushed by a gang of thugs searching for drugs and attacked with baseball bats.

While Xander was left with serious injuries, Jamie tragically lost his life after the attack, with a devastated Xander left questioning everything following the loss of his friend.

After attending Jamie's funeral, Xander admitted to his sister Rose Delaney that he was seriously considering quitting the ambulance service and trying to find something completely new to do with his life.

In scenes airing in the UK next week, Xander remains determined to move forward with his plan to leave his job, but Rose worries that her brother is making a rash decision in his grief-stricken state.

Despite still having stitches in his side following his emergency surgery, Xander decides to push through his pain in order to experience a taste of freedom out in the surf on his board.

Rose and doctor Bree Cameron both express their concern for his recovery and urge him to take it easy, but Xander dismisses their fears as pedantic.

Unfortunately, he later pays the price for his adventure out on the waves, as he winces in pain and clutches his surgical wound.

Feeling both physically and emotionally sensitive, Xander feels cornered when everyone keeps asking him about what's in store in his 'next chapter' – he hasn't thought about anything beyond his resignation.

Back on the beach later, Xander clutches his side and collapses to the sand in pain. Rose's ex Mali Hudson rushes to an unconscious Xander's side to help him.

Has Xander pushed himself too far, and will his collapse be a wake-up call?

Home and Away airs weekdays at 1.45pm on Channel 5 and 6pm on 5STAR. First-look screenings air at 6.30pm on 5STAR and the show also streams on My5.