How did Steven Beale die?

AFTER making a shocking return to Walford, Cindy Beale mentioned her eldest son Steven Beale - but how did he die?

Cindy (Michelle Collins) revealed her daughters Anna (Molly Rainford) and Gina Knight (Francesca Henry) had half siblings.

She talked about her twins Peter (Thomas Law) and Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater) and her eldest son, the late Steven Beale (Aaron Sidwell).

Lucy died after a tragic accident involving Bobby Beale (Clay Milner Russell).

But what happened to Steven?

Steven was the first-born child of Cindy, fathered by Simon Wicks (Nick Berry).

Ian raised Steven as his own, but he grew up as a troubled teen.

When Steven found out Ian wasn't his dad, he left Walford to meet biological dad Simon in 2002, and stayed with him in New Zealand for five years.

When he returned to the square, Steven embarked on a relationship with Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa).

However, he lied to her that he had a terminal brain tumour so that she would stay with him.

Meanwhile, he was having an affair with Lauren's sister Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald).

Max Branning (Jake Wood) blackmailed Steven after finding out, ordering him to set fire to a flat for him.

But Jane (Laurie Brett) was soon in the know about Steven's lies too, and she revealed that Abi was pregnant.

Steven didn't believe her, and he set fire to the restaurant, leaving Jane for dead.

Steven and Max thought Lauren was trapped inside and ran into the flames. Max urged Steven to kill Jane, but he refused; so Max attacked Steven, who was rushed to hospital and died after a cardiac arrest. 

Before his death, Steven got involved with many dodgy dealings.

He became the manager of Ian's (Adam Woodyatt) restaurant, only to stage a burglary to pay some debts and commit a series of thefts. 

Steven also did a stint in a psychiatric hospital, but upon release he chose not to take his medication.

Rejected by the Beales, Steven made an attempt on his life by pouring petrol over himself, but was stopped from setting himself on fire by Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner).

EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.