General Hospital's 5 Most Tragic Deaths We Didn't See Coming, Ranked

General Hospital has naturally seen numerous deaths over the years. Here are 5 that we never saw coming:

5. Oscar Nero

Oscar's time on the show was never plain sailing. Initially rejected by Josslyn's mum, when his own mother came to town, she brought extra hassle. The secrecy surrounding the identity of his father was just one big issue.

After a paternity DNA test, he decided he didn't want confirmation of whether Drew Caine was his father, but his mother told him anyway.

He'd just formed a relationship with Drew when he had his first seizure. Kim then revealed he had an inoperable tumour – but didn't tell Oscar! This only widened the rift between them when he found it out through Cameron.

What made Oscar's death so heartbreaking was that he had a mini-reprieve when the tumour stopped growing. For a brief time, we had hope. Then it was snatched away.

4. Kiki Jerome

Kik also endured a torrid time on General Hospital. Initially caught in a love triangle with brothers Morgan and Michael Corinthos, she later became embroiled in her mother's love life.

At different times, Kiki was told her father was dead, then he was alive, then he was someone else entirely. It was the same with her mother who was allegedly killed but then resurfaced under the guise of being her own twin sister.

No wonder Kiki turned to drink. When it came to her death, as soon she opened the door to see Ryan outside her room, it was obvious something was up. But little did we know that she'd be killed by another of her mother's lovers, who turned out not to be who she thought he was.

3. Nathan West

Nathan was one of the good guys. A cop who was transferred across to Port Charles, he and Maxie were a great couple on the show – eventually marrying and having a baby.

Unfortunately, Nathan wasn't around to see his baby born. Although he was on the right side of the law, Nathan's father, Faison, was a criminal. In true General Hospital fashion, Nathan didn't know who his father was.

When it was revealed in the local press, Faison was eager to find his son. But when he went to see him, he took Maxie hostage instead. After being shot while trying to protect her, Nathan was rushed to the hospital.

There, he managed to feel his unborn baby move, express his love for Maxie, and then pass away.

2. Stone Cates

When it was revealed that Stone Cates was HIV-positive, the character's life was in real danger. But it wasn't just his health that was in jeopardy.

After being tested and found negative, Stone had unprotected sex with Robin. When he was tested again and came back positive, she was tested as well. Although she was negative at the time, she also became HIV positive.

As for Stone, he developed AIDS and it became clear that his life was coming to an end. As if his death wasn't tear-jerking enough, his failing eyesight returned just before he died. 'I see you...oh, Robin, I see you.' He said just before he closed his eyes for the last time.

1. B.J. Jones

It's been years since B.J. Jones, the daughter of Dr. Tony Jones and his first wife, Tania Roskov, was born. She was later adopted by Dr. Jones' second wife, Bobbie.

In one of the biggest plot twists in the show's history, B.J. was involved in an accident when her school bus was hit by a drunk driver. She was left with irreparable brain damage that devastated the lives of her father and adoptive mother.

In the end, her heart was transplanted to save her cousin Maxie's life. The scene where Tony puts his ear to Maxie's chest to hear B.J.'s heartbeat is guaranteed to put a lump in your throat. And B.J. will never be forgotten.