'Grey's Anatomy' Patrick Dempsey shocker has fans buzzing

(Spoiler alert: Please do not read on if you haven't watched Thursday's episode of "Grey's Anatomy")

There has been mounting speculation that Patrick Dempsey would be exiting "Grey's Anatomy" after Season 11, and on Thursday's episode McDreamy broke fans' hearts once again with his shocking exit.

After over a decade on the hit ShondaLand medical drama, Dr. Derek Shepherd came to the rescue for the last time — during the aptly-named episode "How to Save a Life."

Following an absence from the ABC show with McDreamy having been shipped off to Washington D.C., his character dominated every scene on Thursday night — right up to the shocking twist when he was killed off.

Also Read: 'Scandal', 'Grey's Anatomy', 'How to Get Away with Murder': It's Shonda Rhimes' World (Video)

Dr. Derek Shepherd saves lives at an accident scene before losing his own in a fatal car crash/ABC

Before his surprise demise, Shepherd witnessed a car accident in a remote area without cellphone service and attempted to save the lives of three young victims singlehandedly before ambulances arrived.

Also Read: Shonda Rhimes Really Hates the Word 'Diversity': 'I'm Normalizing TV'

In the next disturbing scene, the star surgeon was rushed to an emergency room in serious condition. Viewers could hear Shepherd's voice trying to help his doctors with his diagnosis, but sadly those trying to save him couldn't hear as he lay semi-comatose.

Enter Meredith Grey, after getting the call every wife dreads, she is delivered the bad news that she has told countless mourning families: "We are sorry for your loss."

"The call not to get a head CT was a bad call," she said coldly, criticizing the doctors.

Also Read: 'Scandal' Stabbing Shocker Prompts Fears for a Fan Favorite

"Now he's dead — but not really dead."

Meredith is left with the dilemma of whether to keep Shepherd on life-support with no brain activity or turn off the machines keeping him alive. "You want to talk about killing my husband."

Ultimately, Meredith signed the papers and said goodbye to her true love for good — and fans bid a sad farewell to one of the most touching romances on television for the past decade.