Sophie Nyweide's family 'couldn't save her from her fate' as they faced tragic decision

Sophie Nyweide was a bona fide child star. The actress and movies as a youngster, most notably 2009's romantic drama Mammoth, in which she played the daughter of Michelle Williams and Gale Garcia Bernal and 2010's An Invisible Sign, playing the child of Jessica Alba.

By while Sophie achieved huge success onscreen, away from the cameras her life sadly went onto unravel. And in a moving obituary this week, the star's loved ones announced she had at the age of 24.

Sophie's family said she was ", becoming someone else". "It was a safe place for her and she relish from the casts and crews who nourished her talent and her well being," they added. "Sadness, loss, heartbreak and even anger is present for those who loved her and now will have to continue on without her laughter, infectious passion and zest - without those amazing blue eyes that could look directly into one's soul."

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The relatives said they had been unable to save their "kind and trusting girl" and revealed she had suffered from trauma in her short life, saying: "We must all protect our children and do better". With Sophie rejecting treatment as she tried to cope with her struggles on her own, they had been unable to help her.

"She self-medicated to deal with all the trauma and shame she held inside and it resulted in her death," . "She repeatedly said she would 'handle it' on her own and was compelled to reject the treatment that might possibly have saved her life."

Reports from the US revealed Sophie's body had been found on a riverbank close to a makeshift shelter in the town of Bennington in Vermont. Authorities are said to have stated Sophie did not live in the shelter but was hanging out there with other people. As police await the results of an autopsy which could take up to eight weeks, they are several possible causes for her death.

The American actress appeared in seven films by the age of 10 and later turned to art as a coping mechanism. Sadly, it was to no avail. "She wrote and drew voraciously and much of this art depicts the depth she had and it also represents the pain she suffered," her family said. "Many of her writings and artwork are roadmaps of her struggles and traumas.

"Even with those roadmaps, diagnoses and her own revelations, those closest to her, plus therapists, law enforcement officers and others who tried to help her are heartbroken their efforts couldn't save her from her fate."

Born on July 8, 2000, Sophie's mother Shelly Gibson was an actress and she wanted to pursue the same career after developing a passion for watching movies. "She grew up in this movie theatre and slept in the movie theatre and had a little bed in the projection booth and watched many movies," she said.

The 2003 smash hit movie Something's Gotta Give is said to have particularly inspired Sophie, who went onto beg her grandmother to become an actress. Her dream would soon come true - in 2006, she bagged the lead role in the movie Bella, which went onto win the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.

A year later came an episode of Law & Order one year later plus movies And Then Came Love and New York Serenade. Sophie's last on-screen credit came in 2015 when she appeared on the ABC hidden camera show, What Would You Do?

"A life ended too soon," said her devastated family. "May it not be in vain. May we all learn from her brief life on earth and do better. Yes, we must all protect our children and do better."

Sophie's family urged her loved one and fans to donate to the RAINN charity - a charity committed to supporting survivors of sexual violence, cultivating communities of anti-sexual violence activism, and promoting policies that deliver justice and hold perpetrators accountable.

If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123