Family and friends who say they 'never knew anything was wrong' have paid tribute to a 'courageous' 20-year-old woman after she was found dead.
Gwen Oldekamp was born in Heerlen in the Netherlands before moving to the UK aged 18 to work as an au pair and travel the continent.
Gwen's family and friends say they believed she was a 'happy girl' who 'really enjoyed living life'.
But all the while, Gwen was fighting a secret battle with 'suicidal thoughts', which she did not share with those closest to her out of fear she would be a 'burden', according to evidence read out at an inquest into her death.
Just a few weeks after reaching out to work colleagues for help, Gwen was discovered dead at a home in Blackburn Street in Radcliffe on Christmas Eve, 2019.
Gwen's loved ones have shared their memories of her with the inquest set to continue.
Gwen's mother, Sandra, told the Manchester Evening News : "Gwen was a very happy girl, she laughed a lot and she was also very creative.
"She loved writing and travelling and she loved England.
"Gwen enjoyed taking care of animals and children. She could be a bit clumsy at times and she was very curious. She also liked to go out with her friends.
"My fondest memories are of doing fun things with her, such as going to the cinema or going shopping together."
After first moving to the North East of England to work as an au pair in 2017, Gwen later travelled to Portugal, where she lived and worked for some time.
In 2019, Gwen moved back to the UK, settling in Manchester and getting a customer service job with holiday service booking.com.
The inquest initially head how Gwen sought help through fellow staff, including a mental health first aider at the company.
Gwen was taken to a walk-in centre by the first aider, heard the coroner, where she spoke with a nurse about her 'longstanding' war with 'suicidal thoughts'.
The nurse told the court that 'it seemed Gwen had not disclosed her mental health struggles with family or friends' - and that Gwen feared 'being a burden' to those closest to her by telling them about her dark thoughts.
Meanwhile, Gwen's family was said to be 'loving', speaking to her every day over the phone or through messages, and supporting her as she found her identity in the LGBTQ+ community, heard the inquest.
Gwen's pets and loved ones were 'the only things keeping her going', the inquest heard.
The au pair's family now say they are devastated that their beloved daughter, sister and niece did not speak out.
Heartbroken mum Sandra continued: "It was always very nice to be with Gwen. She went often with her father to the zoo or the big pet store when she was at home.
"She always had a lot of courage, she went bungee jumping and sky diving - she really enjoyed living life.
"It was a big shock to us to hear that Gwen had passed away because she hadn't let us know that anything was wrong.
"It is a great loss without her, not celebrating Christmas anymore and birthdays are not the same anymore. In my mind she is always with me."
Friend Emily agreed, telling the M.E.N.: "It was a shock to me when I found out she had passed and just wished she had spoken to someone as she seemed happy but you never really know what people are going through."
Another friend, Geo, said: "We bonded over both having a lot of rabbits, TV shows, and a lot about the LGBT+ community, as she was gay.
"Gwen never seemed to be down, every conversation with her was so lovely and excitable so you would never have guessed.
"She had so much love in her heart and was so kind. After barely knowing her for a week we became so close. She was really sweet and understanding, always so interested in learning more about TV shows and music and always talked so animatedly about the things she was passionate about."
Gwen's aunt, Peggy, added: "Gwen was one of twins and the kind of girl who was surrounded by kindness and joy and always helpful to everyone, she made a lot of friends over the whole world and was always happy.
"Her magic blue eyes, beautiful smile and lovely tiny feet, you just had to love her.
"She loved animals and had such a caring character. My sweetest memory was when I sent a box of her favourite sweets shaped like pigs to England because she was ill.
"I made a package with big pics drawn on it and candies from the whole family inside it. Every delivery man who saw the box must have laughed - but it worked, she cheered up and got better.
"Gwen worked to make her dreams come true, there is nobody like Gwen.
"We miss her every minute. Nobody thought that her life would end like this.
"Her story has to be told to save many innocent girls and boys like her.
"Gwen was wonderful and loved and will always be missed but never forgotten."
The inquest into Gwen's death has been adjourned and will be resumed in the coming months.
