THIS is the shocking moment David Platt is mowed down by a hitman in a dramatic Coronation Street trailer.

The hairdresser – who is played by actor Jack P Shepherd in the ITV soap – has become embroiled with gangsters after stealing thousands from drug lord Harvey Gaskell last year.

Viewers know David was desperate to buy his house after mum Gail put it on the market to pay for Bethany’s life saving treatment in Turkey following some botched lipo.

Meanwhile David’s son Max set fire to the house in a failed insurance scam and is now in the same prison as Harvey, putting his life at significant risk.

Harvey has demanded the money back with punishing interest – threatening Max in the process.

And David has had no choice but to work for him in a variety of illegal and dangerous jobs.

However next week David is pushed to the brink and thinks the only way to pay off Harvey and to keep Max safe will be to die.

He reasons that his life insurance will pay Harvey off and solve all of his issues.

And with henchman Andy trying to kill him – David knocks back the booze and ends up stumbling into the road giving Andy the chance to deliver.

“I know I will die today,” David says in the dramatic trailer.

“Killed by a hitman.”

David will be left fighting for his life after bleeding out on the road – but will he die?

Coronation Street boss Kate Brooks recently said: “The story we’re telling is one of a very desperate David, trying to protect his family and keep Harvey and his goons at bay.

“He is struggling to navigate that, and struggling to pay back this big debt he has. He’s struggling to protect his family.

“It all comes to a massive head in early February, when we play a massive stunt that has huge consequences for David.

“So, in trying to protect everyone and do the right thing, he ends up losing quite a few things that he holds dear.

“So, a real journey for David. He’s well-intentioned, but he fails, messes up and makes mistakes, and there’s massive consequences not only for his own family, but for the wider community as well.

“Somebody does get embroiled in David’s downfall, which is quite unexpected.”