Who died in Grey's Anatomy season 22?

*Warning - This article contains major spoilers for Grey's Anatomy season 22.*

Grey's Anatomy has made a thrilling return with season 22, leaving fans on tenterhooks following a dramatic cliffhanger at the end of the previous season.

The gas explosion that marked the climax of season 21 put several characters in peril, and tragically, one did not survive. The finale of Grey's Anatomy season 21 left six characters hanging in the balance, including original cast members Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) and Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson).

The blast also put Atticus 'Link' Lincoln (Chris Carmack), Lucas Adams (Niko Terho), Jules Millin (Adelaide Kane) and Monica Beltran (Natalie Morales) in jeopardy.

The season 22 premiere of Grey's Anatomy concluded with the heart-wrenching death of Monica Beltran (Natalie Morales), who succumbed to her injuries from the explosion.

Initially, it seemed she had only suffered a shattered pelvis, making her demise all the more devastating, reports the Mirror.

The paediatric surgeon was mentoring second-year resident Dr. Jules Millin (Adelaide Kane) through a challenging solo procedure on a child.

However, she was pinned under operating light equipment, preventing her from performing the surgery. By the time the fire crew arrived, they were unable to save her.

Jules Milin completed the surgery under Monica's guidance before the surgeon tragically passed away from her injuries.

Devastated fans flocked to X (formerly Twitter) following Monica's tragic demise to express their anguish.

"SHE DESERVED SO MUCH BETTER," one viewer raged, whilst another penned: "Do not expect me to ever get over this."

"I have so much to say about this but I fear I can't stop crying," a third mourned, whilst one more commented: "Monica gone...oh I can't do this."

Natalie Morales initially appeared in Grey's Anatomy as a guest star for six episodes during season 20.

Her character Dr Monica Beltran gained increased prominence in season 21 when she formally became a recurring cast member.

Monica was a paediatric surgeon who prioritised excellence in medicine over cultivating friendships with her Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital co-workers.

Nevertheless, she rapidly won over viewers, making her untimely demise even more heartbreaking.

Grey's Anatomy showrunner Meg Marinis confessed to The Hollywood Reporter that they "didn't want to kill anyone" at the start of season 21 but ultimately determined they "couldn't save everybody".

She continued: "I wanted to see someone die selflessly saving someone's else's life, and she was not only was saving that little kid on the table, she was saving Jules.

"It really speaks to the kind of character Monica was. It was very difficult. It was very painful. I cried on that phone call. I love working with Natalie Morales."

Fans of Grey's Anatomy in the US can tune in to the show on Thursdays at 10/9c on ABC, with streaming available on Hulu the next day.

Viewers in the UK and internationally can catch up with the new series on Fridays via Disney Plus.

The season, consisting of 18 episodes in total, will continue to be broadcast weekly.