After her revelation to Adam, Rachel is more willing to leave Matthew in some else's care; after her maternity leave ends and she returns to work, Adam looks after Matthew during his period of unemployment.Series 5, Episode 2. Mike Bullen (writer); Ciaran Donnelly (director). Cold Feet. ITV. 2 March 2003. When they discover their rented house is being put up for sale, Rachel and Adam find the perfect family home to buy. As Rachel drives to the auction, her car, a Saab 900, is hit by a highway maintenance truck. She is taken to hospital for emergency treatment but dies later that night.Series 5, Episode 3. Mike Bullen, Matt Greenhalgh (writers); Simon Delaney (director). Cold Feet. ITV. 9 March 2003. A church funeral service is held for her and her ashes are scattered in Portmeirion, the location being where Adam states Matthew was conceived.Series 5, Episode 4. Mike Bullen (writer); Tim Sullivan (director). Cold Feet. ITV. 16 March 2003. Although the character dies in the penultimate episode, Baxendale appears in the final episode as an apparition of Rachel. Baxendale believed the character was being punished by divine retribution for the "terrible sin" of terminating her pregnancy.Baxendale, Helen. Cold Feet: The Final Call. Granada Television for ITV. 11 March 2003.
