Amanda Fryer: what happened to Neighbours actress who played Sky Mangel as she dies at 34 - and tributes

Miranda Fryer, who was a child actress in Australian soap opera Neighbours, has died suddenly at the age of 34.

Her premature death came as a shock to her family, who told TV Tonight she passed away on Thursday, 6 January.

Fryer was best known for her role as Sky Mangel, who she played from 1989.

Here is what we know about her sudden death and what her family said.

Who was Miranda Fryer?

Fryer was the first child ever to be contracted to a role in the Aussie soap and was just 18 months old when she began her TV career.

She featured in the show from 1989 to 1991, her character then returned to the midweek show as a teenager in 2003 and was played by actress Stephanie McIntosh.

After leaving her short TV career behind, Fryer went on to complete a degree in nursing at Monash University, and was granted a post-graduate position in Monash Hospital’s neuroscience department.

She would have been due to start work on February 7 in the neuroscience department at Monash Hospital.

Last year, she married fiancé Arthur Pothitis.

What happened to her?

Fryer’s family confirmed to Australia’s TV Tonight that she had died in her sleep.

While the coroner has yet to provide a cause of death, her mother stated she “went to sleep and did not wake up.”

A statement was given by her family to TV tonight, in which they described her as “too good for this world.”

“True soulmates, Miranda and Arthur were making plans to start their family, when one day last week she went to sleep and never woke up,” her family said.

“We do not know why. She had had some health issues with her heart. Maybe her beautiful persona was just too good for this world of ours.

“We, who all loved her so much, shall treasure the memories she has left us with and mourn our loss forever.

“A beautiful child, stunning teenager, beautiful inside, and out… a woman, with so much love and happiness given and received. So many friends, so much still to offer this world, gone.”

She died at her home in Glen Iris, Melbourne, the 34-year-old was known to have health issues relating to her heart.

Her mother, Traci Hunter, told the Herald Sun: “She was the most wonderful daughter. She had so much love and passion for life.

“She was a truly kind, loving person, almost too good to be true... Miranda was adored by everyone.

“She just went to sleep and did not wake up. It is a terrible shock to us all.”

TV casting director Jan Russ added: “I feel so very sad to lose one of my cast and especially one so young as Miranda who spent her very young years on the show.

“I love them like my own and feel the loss when they pass.”