Home and Away star Kristy Wright has revealed she was in a secret relationship with late actor Dieter Brummer 'for years' from when she was 17 years old.
On Monday, the heartbroken actress, 43, described Dieter as 'my first true love' before detailing the pair's first date in 1996 - just hours after learning of his tragic death at age 45.
Alongside images of the former couple, Kristy - who played Chloe Richards in the soap from 1995 to 1999 - wrote: 'I fell in love with him very quickly, and fortunately for me he felt the same way.
Secret love: Home and Away star Kristy Wright has revealed she had a secret romance with late actor Dieter Brummer 'for years' from when she was 17 years old. Both pictured
'We were each others safety blankets and we were best friends. Even after we broke up years later, our friendship never died.'
She said their first date was a picnic on Balmoral beach, gushing that the duo spent 'almost 10 hours discussing everything from the cosmos to our childhoods and our hopes and dreams'.
'Anyone who knows Dieter knows how much he enjoyed discussion and debating ideas,' she continued. 'I was a young girl from the burbs and he was Australia's heart-throb… but he was so normal! So down to earth… but still so interesting.'
First love: Alongside images of the pair spending time together, Kristy - who played Chloe Richards on the soap from 1995 to 1999 - wrote: 'I fell in love with him very quickly and fortunately for me he felt the same way'
Romance: She said their first date was a picnic on Balmoral beach, gushing that the duo spent 'almost 10 hours discussing everything from the cosmos to our childhoods and our hopes and dreams'
The pair had started dating when he was 19, after he finished his four-year stint as Shane Parrish on the soap.
'He had just finished Home and Away and I had just started and I'm not sure how we did, it but we managed to keep our relationship out of the eyes of the media. Our young love was able to blossom in private,' she said.
'He had high expectations of people because he knew that we as a species were capable of so much more. He didn't suffer fools and he was a proud member of the grammar police.
Hidden romance: The pair had started dating when he was 19, after he finished his four-year stint as Shane Parrish on the soap
Friends: 'I'm so grateful that we stayed friends and for over 25 years he has been a constant in my life and someone that I could call at any hour. Pictured: Kristy in 2019
'He loved words. Loved knowing an obscure word that no one else knew. His favourite topic was existentialism. He was deep. Much deeper than most people know.'
She continued: 'I'm so grateful that we stayed friends and for over 25 years he has been a constant in my life and someone that I could call at any hour.
'We were that for each other. The world has lost a gift this weekend. A luminous, unique, complex man. A man who deserved more.'
She signed off by saying: 'I love you, Deet. My deepest condolences go out to your beautiful family. They adored you more than anything in this world and my heart is breaking knowing how much pain they are in right now.
Tribute: 'He loved words. Loved knowing an obscure word that no one else knew. His favourite topic was existentialism. He was deep. Much deeper than most people know,' she added
Heartbroken: 'We were that for each other. The world has lost a gift this weekend. A luminous, unique, complex man. A man who deserved more,' she added
'Soar high on Angel's wings. Watch over us. And see you when we get there.'
Earlier in the day, Kristy had shared a black-and-white image of the pair together which she poignantly captioned: 'I don't have any words right now but my heart is screaming and I am numb.
'Rest In Peace my darling Dieter, my first true love.'
The two-time Logie winner was found dead at a home in Glenhaven, in Sydney's north-west, on Saturday afternoon, NSW Police confirmed to Daily Mail Australia.
His death is not being treated as suspicious and is suspected to be a suicide.
Brummer starred on Home and Away from 1992 to 1996, and later had roles in hospital drama Medivac and crime series Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities.
Following the news of his passing, Brummer's family released a statement saying their world would 'never be the same'.
'On behalf of my family, We post this today with a heavy heart,' the Facebook post began. 'We lost our handsome, talented, funny, complicated and beloved Dieter on Saturday morning.
Passing: The two-time Logie winner was found dead at a home in Glenhaven, in Sydney's north-west, on Saturday afternoon, NSW Police confirmed to Daily Mail Australia
'He has left a massive hole in our lives and our world will never be the same. Our thoughts go out to all of you who knew him, loved him, or worked with him over the years.
'We appreciate you respecting our privacy at this terrible time.'
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