This is a huge and dramatic storyline unfolding in Summer Bay, and yes, there’s definitely a blame game happening after Theo’s near-death experience!

The main person blamed for Theo Poulos’s (Matt Evans) near-death experience is River Boy leader, Gage Reynolds (Tom Wilson).

However, there’s a strong secondary blame game happening, with Justin Morgan (James Stewart) pointing fingers at Sonny Baldwin (Brandon McGlinchey).

Here’s the breakdown:

• What happened to Theo: Theo was brutally attacked by Gage and his fellow River Boys as an act of revenge. Gage trapped Theo underneath a hydraulic car lift at a junkyard and deliberately lowered it onto him, intending to crush him to death. This was Gage’s retribution because Theo had an affair with Gage’s girlfriend, Lacey Miller (Sophea Pennington).
• Gage Reynolds is the perpetrator: Gage is the one who directly orchestrated and carried out the near-fatal attack. He’s the one who gets arrested for it, based on statements from Theo and Lacey.
• Why Sonny Baldwin is blamed (by Justin):
  • Involvement with “dodgy characters”: Justin, Theo’s uncle, is furious with Sonny, believing that Sonny’s association with the River Boys and his involvement in illicit activities dragged Theo into this dangerous world.
  • Not protecting Theo: Sonny was with Theo when Gage and his gang ambushed them. While Sonny himself was violently assaulted and couldn’t prevent Theo from being crushed, Justin sees Sonny’s presence and association as a direct cause of Theo’s peril.
  • Remi’s defense: Remi Carter (Adam Rowland) steps in to defend Sonny, pointing out to Justin that Theo was the one who made the choice to get involved with Lacey, Gage’s girlfriend, and willingly pursued the dangerous affair.

So, while Gage is the clear villain responsible for the physical act, the blame is heavily placed on Gage by the police and those seeking justice, and on Sonny by an angry and distraught Justin, leading to intense arguments at the hospital.