and Carly's exit stories coincided with each other. In his final story, Ben revealed he was AWOL from the army rather than being discharged. Despite the shock, the pair reconcile before they leave. At the time of his departure, McMahon appeared in 145 episodes of Home and Away. Storylines Ben arrives in Summer Bay on military leave and is accompanied by his friend Dave. Ben soon begins dating Carly but she grows annoyed with Dave and break-up with Ben. Grant helps Carly and Ben reconcile by pretending to date Carly. In return he pretends Ben has been injured to force Carly to admit her concern. Ben proposes marriage to Carly and she accepts but her foster parents Tom (Roger Oakley) and Pippa Fletcher (Vanessa Downing) accuse the pair of being too hasty. The couple set about finding additional jobs and looking at potential homes. When Tom dies of a heart attack, Ben comforts Carly and inadvertently upsets Steven Matheson (Adam Willits) when he sits at the head of the table, in Tom's place. Ben and Carly's relationship is marred by financial worry regarding their wedding. Ben and Carly go skinny-dipping but their car and clothes are stolen. The police arrest Ben for public indecency, but they do not press charges. Ben tries to help Pippa set up a chicken farm but his efforts are in vein as he cannot handle the birds and gives them up. Ben's family arrive ahead of the wedding but gets food poisoning after his cousin Angelo buys him a takeaway meal. Doctor Walker (Earl Cross) gives Ben medication but warns him not to mix it with alcohol. Ignoring the warning, Angelo and Adam get Ben drunk, steal his trousers and leave him in the bush. Ben is then picked up by the truck driver who takes him miles out on the road. Ben is lost on the morning of his wedding and Carly is left waiting at the church and presumes Ben has decided not to marry her. Ben manages to get home and their wedding takes place later that day and they move in together. Ben learns that Fred Owens (Keith Holloway) is selling his boatshed business and secures a bank loan to purchase it. Ben is shocked to discover that Michael Ross (Dennis Coard) has already purchased the business. The pair begin a feud, which is later ended when Ben agrees to work