I agree it was definitely quite sad. However, towards the end of the episode I had a feeling that he was actually dead; Scrubs has done similar techniques in which a character is shown as alive because someone is remembering them, it actually kind of freaks me out.
I hope that the Dad is safe; not sure if there might still be a deterrant from him returning to America.
I'll have to go set my Sky+ to E4. Thanks for reminding me.