Harry Styles has shared a tribute for his late bandmate Liam Payne, who died aged 31 this week.
It is understood Payne fell from the third floor of CasaSur Palermo Hotel in the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires shortly after 5pm on Wednesday (local time), with his body reportedly found in an internal courtyard.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Liam Payne’s official cause of death revealed.
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He rose to fame alongside Styles and bandmates Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson as part of boyband sensation One Direction.
Styles shared a photo of Payne on tour during their One Direction days, performing to a crowd of thousands.
“I am truly devastated by Liam’s passing,” Styles began.
“His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it.
“Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious. He was warm, supportive, and incredibly loving.
“The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend.
He ended his message by sharing his sympathies for Payne’s family: “My heart breaks for Karen, Geoff, Nicola and Ruth, his son Bear, and all those around the world who knew and loved him, as I did. Harry.”
Styles’ statement comes a day after his mother Anne took to social media on Thursday with a moving three-word post.
“Just a boy …” she shared on Instagram with a broken heart emoji against a black backdrop.
It also comes hours after the remaining band members released a joint statement.
“In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say,” they said.
“But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.
“The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us.
“We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam. – Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry.”
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Louis Tomlinson also released a statement individually with a photo of the pair together on tour.
“I am beyond devastated to be writing this but yesterday I lost a brother. Liam was somebody I looked up to every day, such a positive, funny, and kind soul,” he began. “I first met Liam when he was 16 and I was 18, I was instantly amazed by his voice but more importantly as time went on I got a chance to see the kind brother I’d longed all my life for. “Liam was an incredible songwriter with a great sense of melody, we often spoke of getting back in the studio together to try and recreate the writing chemistry we had built up in the band. “And for the record, Liam was in my opinion the most vital part of One Direction.
“His experience from a young age, his perfect pitch, his stage presence, his gift for writing. The list goes on. Thank you for shaping us Liam.”
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He went on to address Payne directly.
“I feel beyond lucky to have had you in my life but I’m really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye,” Tomlinson said.
“I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours, reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life.
“I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be.
He referred to Payne’s seven-year-old son Bear, writing that “if Bear ever needs me I will be the uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was. “I wish I got the chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you. “Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you mate. Sleep well X,” his message ended.
Zayn Malik breaks his silence
Fellow One Direction member Zayn Malik also offered a tribute to his dead friend on Friday (AEDT), sharing a throwback photo from their days on tour.
“Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me, I can’t help but think selfishly that there was so many more conversations for us to have in our lives,” he said.
“I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life.
“When I was missing home as a 17yr old kid you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know you were my friend and that I was loved.
“Even though you were younger than me you were always more sensible than me, you were headstrong, opinionated, and gave no f**** about telling people when they were wrong.
“Even though we butted heads because of this a few times, I always secretly respected you for it.
“When it came to the music Liam, you were the most qualified in every sense. I knew nothing in comparison, l was a novice child with no experience and you were already a professional. I was always happy to know, no matter what happened on stage we could always rely on you to know which way to steer the ship next.
“I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what l’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly,” he went on.
“I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever, there is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated.
“I hope that wherever you are right now you are good and are at peace and you know how loved you are. Love you bro.”
Payne rose to fame alongside Horan, Styles, Malik and Tomlinson as part of the British-Irish boy band sensation One Direction.
They formed on The X Factor UK in 2010 and went on to become one of the biggest selling boy bands of all time.
The group enjoyed monumental success, with hits including What Makes You Beautiful, Story of My Life, and Drag Me Down.
They earned countless awards and sold millions of albums worldwide before going on an indefinite hiatus in 2016.
Liam Payne dies in Argentina
Reuters was first to report the news that the singer fell from the third floor of CasaSur Palmero Hotel shortly after 5pm local time on Wednesday.
Local reporters cited emergency services.
According to La Nacion the local police station was called by the hotel manager who reported “an aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol”.
The fall was reportedly 13m to 14m and Payne suffered “very serious injuries incompatible with life”.
The head of local emergency services SAME (El Sistema de Atención Médica de Emergencias, Alberto Crescent said in a televised statement in Argentina: “At 17.04, through 911, the integrated public security system, we were alerted about a person who was in an internal courtyard of the Casa Sur hotel.
“At 17.11, a SAME team arrived and confirmed the man’s death. We later learned that he was a singer in a musical group.
“Unfortunately, he had injuries incompatible with life as a result of his fall, so we had to confirm his death. There was no possibility of resuscitation.”
Fans have gathered and emergency services can be seen outside the hotel, where a red tent is set up around the scene. Investigations are ongoing.
After years of success with One Direction, Payne embarked on a solo career, releasing singles such as Strip That Down and Stack It Up.
He is father to seven-year-old son, Bear, whom he shares with singer Cheryl Cole.