Dustin Diamond’s girlfriend ‘heartbroken’ over Saved by the Bell star’s death

Dustin Diamond's girlfriend has said she is heartbroken after the Saved by the Bell star died from lung cancer at the age of 44.

The pharmacy technician, known as Tash, told DailyMail.com that the late actor was “the love of my life”.

“We planned on a future together and spoke often about having kids. I’m heartbroken,” she said.

She said that Diamond died at their friend Jules’s house in Florida.

His death prompted an outpouring of tributes from his Saved by the Bell co-stars, including Tori Spelling and Mario Lopez.

Lopez, who played AC Slater on the beloved teen sitcom, wrote, “Dustin, you will be missed my man. The fragility of this life is something never to be taken for granted. Prayers for your family will continue on...”

Read more: Dustin Diamond's co-star Tori Spelling remembers first onscreen kiss

Tiffani Thiessen, who played Kelly Kapowski, echoed Lopez’s sentiments, adding: “I am deeply saddened by the news of my old co-star @realdustindiamond passing. Life is extremely fragile and it’s something we should never take for granted. God speed Dustin.”

A statement from Diamond’s representative called the late actor “a character in and of himself: an unpredictable spitfire who always left us shocked, but never left us bored”.

“We are thankful he trusted us enough to share his genuine, authentic self with our team,” the representative told The Independent.

“We wish you knew him in the way that we did. We please ask that you give room for privacy to our team and Mr Diamond’s family during this tragic time, as we grieve and remember the memories spent together. This loss is as much stinging as it is sudden.”