Niall Horan has shared an emotional tribute to ‘brother’ Liam Payne following his tragic death aged 31, and just days after the pair reunited in Argentina.

The One Direction singer plunged 45ft from the third floor into the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires yesterday, prompting a wave of tributes from across the showbiz world.

 

Niall, 31, the final band member to pay tribute, said in his heartbreaking statement that he didn’t know ‘our recent hug was our final goodbye’.

He penned on Instagram: ‘I’m absolutely devastated about the passing of my amazing friend, Liam. It just doesn’t feel real.

 

‘Liam had an energy for life and a passion for work that was infectious He was the brightest in ever room and always made everyone feel happy and secure.

‘All the laughs we have over the years, sometimes about the simplest of things, keep coming to mind through the sadness.

‘We got to live out our wildest dreams together and I will cherish every moment we had forever. The bond and friendship we had doesn’t happen often in a lifetime.

The singer, who Liam had seen in concert in Argentina just days before he died, continued: ‘I feel so fortunate that I got to see him recently. I sadly didn’t know that after saying goodbye and hugging him that evening, I would be saying goodbye forever. It’s heartbreaking.

 

‘My love and condolences go out to Geoff, Karen, Ruth, Nicola and of course his son Bear.

 

‘Thank you for everything, Payno. Love you brother. Nialler’

Liam had arrived in South America with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy on September 30, staying in Argentina for two weeks after only planning to spend ‘five days’ there.

During their extended trip, Liam was reunited with Niall Horan after going to watch his former bandmate perform at the Movistar Arena, Buenos Aires, on October 2.

 

A heartbreaking video appeared to show him in high spirits as he wrapped his arm around Kate and tenderly kissed her on the head.

Liam had told his fans they were going to the Latin American country ‘because they want to’ and also because he ‘would like to square up a couple of things’ with his former bandmate.

Liam’s One Direction bandmates broke their silence following his tragic death on Thursday by releasing an emotional statement.

In a joint statement signed from ‘Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry’, they said they were ‘completely devastated’.

‘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.’

Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik all later released separate tributes.

Styles wrote on Instagram that he was ‘truly devastated’ and will ‘miss him always’.

‘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.

‘My heart breaks for Karen, Geoff, Nicola and Ruth, his son Bear, and all those around the world who knew him and loved him, as I did.’

Tomlinson said in a separate emotional tribute that he was ‘really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye’.

He posted a picture on his Instagram page of the two of them on stage with Payne lovingly putting his arm over Tomlinson’s shoulder.

Tomlinson said he would be an uncle to Payne’s son Bear if he ‘ever needs me’ and ‘tell him stories of how amazing his dad was’.

 

‘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,’ he wrote.

‘I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be.

‘I wish I got 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.’

Malik said he had been talking out loud to Payne ‘hoping you can hear me’.

In his own heart wrenching tribute, he said he had ‘lost a brother when you left us’.

‘And I can’t explain you you what I’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 wrote.

‘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 wherevere you are right now you are good and are at peace and you know how loved you are. Love you bro.’

Liam’s solo career came off the back of global stardom that began with ITV talent show, The X Factor.

 

He first auditioned for the show in 2008 at the age of 14 singing Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me To The Moon, with judge Simon Cowell telling him to return to the ITV talent show two years later.

Liam impressed the judges in 2010 singing Michael Buble ‘s rendition of Cry Me A River before he was put with four other solo hopefuls at the boot camp stage of the competition – the group which later became One Direction.