The family of former One Direction member, Liam Payne has issued a heartfelt statement following the singer’s untimely death at 31.

In their message, they expressed their deep sorrow and paid tribute to the man he was. “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts, and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny, and brave soul,” the family shared.

Payne’s loved ones also emphasized the importance of privacy as they navigate this difficult time. “We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time,” the statement continued.

Liam was raised in Wolverhampton by his mother, Karen, a nurse, and his father, Geoff, a fitter. He shared a particularly close bond with his dad, whom he honored in a heartfelt Father’s Day tribute in 2020.

“Happy Father’s Day Dad! And to all the Dads out there and those that are no longer here. This day means even more to me now in the last few years than ever before. I truly appreciate everything you have ever done for me thank you for raising me right. x[sic],” Liam wrote.

Liam was the youngest of three siblings, with two older sisters, Nicola Payne and Ruth Gibbins. The singer shared a son, Bear, with former partner and Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Tweedy. Their son was born in 2017, following their high-profile relationship from 2016 to 2018.

In the wake of his untimely death, close friend Jodie Richards reflected on Liam’s robust support system. She remarked that he had very supportive parents, and two sisters, and spoke highly of Cheryl. She added that he had a girlfriend and a network of people he could reach out to when needed.

Jodie who taught Liam at her performing arts company Pink Productions in Wolverhampton, shared with Sky News the heartbreaking details of their final interactions just hours before his tragic death.

She initially thought the news of his passing, after falling from a balcony in Buenos Aires, was “fake.” In disbelief, she attempted to reach him on Wednesday night.

On Monday, Liam had messaged Jodie to check in, asking what she was doing. She responded that she was at the gym with her son, Jackson, to which Liam replied, “Nice.” He later sent her a photo of himself sitting on his hotel bed in Argentina.

Jodie explained that she had a close friendship with Liam, noting that they had been friends for years. She mentioned that he was in Argentina at the time and believed he wanted to reach out to check on her and see how everyone was doing back home.

“He seemed fine, he looked happy, he looked healthy – no reason for any kind of concern and then obviously I heard it on the news,” the 41-year-old recalled.

She initially thought it was fake and tried to call Liam, but he didn’t answer. When she sent him a text, it didn’t show as read, which was unusual for him. As she turned on the TV, it became increasingly clear that the news was true.

Liam Payne died after falling from the third floor of his hotel in Buenos Aires on October 16, 2024. Medical professionals who attended to him on the scene have since revealed the cause of his death.

Payne died instantly after his fall due to multiple injuries, including a fractured skull. Alberto Crescenti shared that his team got to the scene as fast as possible to give him medical attention and resuscitate him but they couldn’t as he had died due to the severity of his state.

“Based on what the team saw, there was apparently a cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death,” he explained.

Crescenti confirmed that Liam Payne had fallen into the hotel’s internal patio but did not address claims regarding his possible intoxication or drug use. He emphasized that authorities were still waiting for the autopsy results and advised against making premature conclusions.

Just minutes before his death, Payne posted a Snapchat photo featuring himself and his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, as they looked into a mirror.

After his death, his body stayed at the hotel for over three hours before it was taken away at 8:38 p.m. local time. He was transported to a city morgue on Viamonte Street last night (October 16), located about a 15-minute drive southwest of the boutique hotel.

Pathologists in Buenos Aires are scheduled to perform a post-mortem on October 17, 2024, to begin addressing questions about the singer’s untimely death. They will also test for signs of alcohol or drug use before the incident at the CasaSur Palermo hotel.

Although officials have not provided a timeline for the test results, local reports suggest it could take between 10 to 15 days. The prosecutor leading the investigation into Payne’s death has been identified as Andrés Esteban Madrea.

If it is confirmed that narcotics were found in the singer’s hotel room and contributed to his death, authorities are likely to investigate who provided the drugs, with a potential prosecution to follow.