Martin Platt and Rebecca Hopkins were on duty at Weatherfield General on Christmas Day 1999 when a ten-year old boy, Simon was rushed in, having been knocked over on his bike. Despite the best efforts of the A&E staff, Simon died and Martin and Rebecca had the task of breaking the news to his distraught Mother. She ran out of the waiting room in hysterics, knocking Rebecca in the process and cutting her head. Martin patched the cut up. Upset at the day's events, the two got closer and ended up making love, thus starting an affair over the next few months.