The 7 Most Heartbreaking Moments in Grey's Anatomy, Ranked

Grey's Anatomy has attracted its large, loyal audience for a reason. The ABC medical drama stands out for its ability to elicit a wide range of emotions from viewers. Over its 19-season run, Grey's Anatomy fans have experienced everything from pure joy to complete devastation.

The most memorable moments, however, are those that shatter your heart. Grey's Anatomy has no shortage of those. Here's a ranking of the seven most harrowing moments in Grey's Anatomy, as discussed by fans.

7. Little girl dying of heart disease (Sweet Surrender S5E20)

Many tragic patient stories have been featured on Grey's Anatomy, but the tale of Jessica, a little girl dying from terminal heart disease, remains forever in fans' memories. Her father, unable to accept her fate, tried everything to save her, even attempting to take her to Mexico for experimental treatment. Sadly, Jessica's condition worsened, and her father had no choice but to stop trying and bid her farewell.

6. Henry's death (Suddenly S8E10)

Though Henry Burton, Teddy Altman's husband, was a supporting character, his death is hard to forget. Teddy brought him to the hospital after he began coughing up blood, and Cristina Yang performed emergency surgery on him without knowing his true identity.

The surgery failed, and Henry died on the operating table, leading to tension between Cristina and Teddy.

5. April and Jackson losing their baby (All I Could Do Was Cry S11E11)

April Kepner and Jackson Avery were among Grey's Anatomy's most beloved couples. Their heart-wrenching storyline involved losing their first child to a fatal congenital disability. Born prematurely, their baby Samuel was only alive long enough for them to say goodbye and baptise him.

4. George’s death (Good Mourning S6E1)

The death of original intern George O'Malley devastated fans. He was struck by a bus while saving a woman's life, and the most excruciating moment was when Meredith finally recognised George in a dying, unidentified patient with a severely disfigured face.

3. Plane crash (Flight S8E24)

The Season 8 finale plane crash brought on a flood of tears. Doctors on the plane were stranded in the woods, and Lexie Grey's slow death next to the love of her life, Mark Sloan, was a gut-wrenching sight. Mark's death in the following episode only compounded the heartbreak.

2. Denny’s death (Losing My Religion S2E27)

Few moments on Grey's Anatomy are as agonising as Denny Duquette's death. His love story with Izzie Stevens and the dramatic arc of Izzie's unethical actions to secure Denny a life-saving heart transplant kept viewers riveted.

Tragically, just when everything seemed to be going well, Denny died from surgical complications. Many viewers struggled to watch Izzie's subsequent breakdown.

1. Derek's death (How to Save a Life S11E21)

Arguably the most excruciating moment in Grey's Anatomy is the death of Derek Shepherd. He was in a car accident and knew exactly what the surgeons needed to do to save his life, but he couldn't communicate with them. The most painful part of the episode is Derek narrating his own death—a scene that left fans inconsolable.