Why did Graham Wardle leave Heartland? (How did Ty die in Heartland?)

Heartland is arguably one of the best family drama series streaming on Netflix. There are 15 seasons available to watch on the platform so far, with a Heartland seasons 16 and 17 expected to arrive in the future.

Set in the fictional town of Hudson, Alberta, Heartland follows the Bartlett-Fleming family as they deal with the challenges of running their own ranch while also facing the highs and lows of life together.

Amy Fleming, played by Amber Marshall, is the protagonist of the series. She discovers she possesses the same gift of aiding horses that her late mother had. She develops a close bond and starts a relationship with Ty Borden, a ranch hand working at Heartland Ranch as part of his probation. But they don’t jump into a relationship right away. They start as best friends and eventually fall in love.

Over the seasons, the couple faces many bumps in the road in their relationship but ultimately ends up tying the knot and having a baby. While life seemed to be going well for the married couple, everything goes south at the end of the thirteenth season. Something terrible happens to Amy and Ty, and soon after, viewers find out Ty lost his life. So, how did the beloved character pass away, and in what episode? We answered these questions and shared why the actor behind the Ty character (Graham Wardle) decided to exit the series.

Spoilers ahead from Heartland season 14.

What episode of Heartland season 14 does Ty die?

Although something bad happens to Ty in the season 13 finale, he doesn’t actually die until Heartland season 14 episode 1. The episode is titled “Keep Me in Your Heart.” This is the last time Ty makes an appearance on the show.

How did Ty die in Heartland season 14?

If you recall from the season 13 finale, Amy and Ty accidentally get in the way of a stray bullet fired by a nearby poacher. Due to Ty acting fast and running to shield Amy, the bullet only hits Amy in the shoulder. He rushes her to the hospital, and as the doctors take Amy away, a nurse points out to Ty that he has also been shot. The nurse calls for help, and Ty is brought into the hospital.

Amy and Ty are eventually discharged from the hospital, and everything seems to be well for them. The season ends with Amy, Ty, and their daughter Lyndy caring for the horses at Heartland Ranch.

But in the season 14 premiere, Ty suddenly collapses while stabling Spartan. Jack and Amy come to his rescue and take him to the hospital. But the doctor reveals to Amy that Ty didn’t make it. The doctor tells Amy that Ty developed a condition called deep vein thrombosis as a result of his gunshot wound and that there was no way to save him.

Why did Graham Wardle leave Heartland?

As reported by The Chronicle Journal in 2021, Graham Wardle shared why he decided to leave the family drama after 14 seasons via an email sent to The Canadian Press. He said, “I felt in my heart it was time to move in a new direction.”

He went more in-depth on why he decided to depart the series in a special video posted on Heartland‘s official YouTube channel in January 2021.

After being on the family drama for 14 years, Graham felt like it was the right time for him to move on to pursue new opportunities and explore other interests.

Graham mentions that it wasn’t an easy decision and that he had been thinking about it for a while.

"“I have spent a few years now contemplating and trying to figure out how to honor myself and make this transition and honor the show. So, it’s been a long process; the long and short of it is that I’m following my heart and I don’t know where it’s leading me, but that’s what life is about.”"

Heartland seasons 1-15 are streaming on Netflix.