Liam Payne’s death: One Direction members release statements
One Direction members remember Liam Payne FILE PHOTO: (L-R) Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Zane Malik and Niall Horan of One Direction attend a photocall during the X Factor press conference at the Connaught Hotel on December 9, 2010, in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) (Ian Gavan/Getty Images)
By Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
The former members of the boy band One Direction released a joint statement on the death of their bandmate Liam Payne.
Payne, 31, died after falling from a third-floor balcony at a Buenos Aires hotel on Wednesday.
The bandmates wrote on Instagram, “We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing,” adding that they will “take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.”
Each then posted their individual tributes on their own social media accounts.
Louis Tomlinson called Payne “a brother” remembering that they were only teenagers when they first met.
“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.”
He also said that he “will be the Uncle” Payne’s son Bear would need, “and will tell him stories of how amazing his dad was.”
Niall Horan posted a photo of him and Payne with simply a black heart in the caption. A second image in the Instagram post read, “I’m absolutely devastated about the passing of my amazing friend, Liam. It just doesn’t feel real.”
Zayn Malik posted “Love You Bro” as the caption of a photo of the two of them on Instagram. He also posted a statement writing, “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.”
Harry Styles posted a photo of Payne on stage, and like Horan, it was captioned with a black heart. Styles’ statement read, “I am truly devastated by Liam’s passing. His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it.”
A preliminary autopsy showed Payne died from “multiple trauma” and “internal and external hemorrhage” from the fall. There were 25 injuries that corresponded to falling from that height including injuries to his head, thorax, abdomen and limbs, according to the report.
There were no defensive injuries found.
“Payne did not adopt a reflex posture to protect himself and that he could have fallen into a state of semi- or total unconsciousness,” prosecutors said.
More tests, including toxicological tests, were requested to know what was in his system when he died.
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 11: (L-R) Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne of X-Factor band One Direction attend the Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 World film premiere at Odeon Leicester Square on November 11, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 30: Liam Payne attends the Royal Film Performance and World Premiere of 'The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader' at Odeon Leicester Square on November 30, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 09: (L-R) Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Zane Malik and Niall Horan of 'One Direction' attend a photocall during the X Factor press conference at the Connaught Hotel on December 9, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) (Ian Gavan/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 09: Singer Liam Payne of One Direction performs at Radio City Music Hall on March 9, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Through the years SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 13: Harry Styles (L) and Liam Payne (R) of One Direction perform live on stage during the Matinee performance at Hordern Pavilion on April 13, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson from One Direction with their British Artist Video of the Year award at the BRIT Awards 2016 at The O2 Arena on February 24, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Luca Teuchmann/Getty Images) (Luca V. Teuchmann/Getty Images)
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 28: Singer Liam Payne attends the World Premiere of "I Am Bolt" at Odeon Leicester Square on November 28, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Through the years CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 09: Recording Artist Liam Payne performs during Nickelodeon SlimeFest at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island on June 9, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images for Nickelodeon) (Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images for Nickelodeon)
Through the years SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 13: Liam Payne performs during the TAB Everest Race Day at Royal Randwick Racecourse on October 13, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Hanna Lassen/Getty Images for The ATC) (Hanna Lassen/Getty Images for The ATC)
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 06: Liam Payne performs during WE Day UK 2019 at The SSE Arena on March 06, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) (John Phillips/Getty Images)
Through the years DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 21: Liam Payne attends the Grand Reveal Weekend for Atlantis The Royal, Dubai's new ultra-luxury hotel on January 21, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images for Atlantis The Royal) (Samir Hussein/Getty Images for Atlantis The Ro)
Through the years DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 21: Liam Payne attends the Grand Reveal Weekend for Atlantis The Royal, Dubai's new ultra-luxury hotel on January 21, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Atlantis The Royal) (Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Atlantis The Ro)
Liam Payne FILE PHOTO: Liam Payne arrives at the "All Of Those Voices" UK Premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square on March 16, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images) (Kate Green/Kate Green/Getty Images)
Remembering Liam Payne Fans of British singer Liam Payne lit candles next to the hotel where he died in Buenos Aires on October 16, 2024. British singer Liam Payne, former member of the group One Direction, died Wednesday aged 31 after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Argentina, police in Buenos Aires said. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP) (Photo by LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images) (LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images)
Remembering Liam Payne Fans of One Direction and Liam Payne gathered outside the hotel to sing the band's songs and leave a candle at an improvised altar after British musician Liam James Payne, composer, guitarist, and former member of the band, died on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He fell from the third floor of a hotel in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, according to police sources. (Photo by Luciano Gonzalez/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Remembering Liam Payne Letters and candles left by a fans honoring British singer Liam Payne are seen in front of the hotel where he died in Buenos Aires on October 17, 2024. Tributes poured in Thursday for British singer Liam Payne, a former member of the best-selling boy band One Direction, after he plunged to his death from the balcony of a Buenos Aires hotel. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP) (Photo by LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images) (LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images)
Remembering Liam Payne Fans react outside Casa Sur Hotel hours after former One Direction star Liam Payne, 31, reportedly died on October 16, 2024 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. According to the Buenos Aires police department, Payne fell down from the window of a hotel he was staying at in the Palermo Neighborhood, one of the most known areas in Buenos Aires. (Photo by Tobias Skarlovnik/Getty Images) (Tobias Skarlovnik/Getty Images)
Remembering Liam Payne Fans of One Direction and Liam Payne gathered outside the hotel to sing the band's songs and leave a candle at an improvised altar after British musician Liam James Payne, composer, guitarist, and former member of the band, died on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He fell from the third floor of a hotel in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, according to police sources. (Photo by Luciano Gonzalez/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Remembering Liam Payne A detail view of the Hotel logo at the Casa Sur Hotel entrance where former One Direction star Liam Payne, 31, reportedly died on October 16, 2024 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. According to the Buenos Aires police department, Payne fell down from the window of a hotel he was staying at in the Palermo Neighborhood, one of the most known areas in Buenos Aires. (Photo by Tobias Skarlovnik/Getty Images) (Tobias Skarlovnik/Getty Images)
Remembering Liam Payne People gather and take pictures outside Casa Sur Hotel hours after former One Direction star Liam Payne, 31, reportedly died on October 16, 2024 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. According to the Buenos Aires police department, Payne fell down from the window of a hotel he was staying at in the Palermo Neighborhood, one of the most known areas in Buenos Aires. (Photo by Tobias Skarlovnik/Getty Images) (Tobias Skarlovnik/Getty Images)
Remembering Liam Payne People gather outside Casa Sur Hotel hours after former One Direction star Liam Payne, 31, reportedly died on October 16, 2024 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. According to the Buenos Aires police department, Payne fell down from the window of a hotel he was staying at in the Palermo Neighborhood, one of the most known areas in Buenos Aires. (Photo by Tobias Skarlovnik/Getty Images) (Tobias Skarlovnik/Getty Images)
Remembering Liam Payne Fans of One Direction and Liam Payne gathered outside the hotel to sing the band's songs and leave a candle at an improvised altar after British musician Liam James Payne, composer, guitarist, and former member of the band, died on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He fell from the third floor of a hotel in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, according to police sources. (Photo by Luciano Gonzalez/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Remembering Liam Payne A reporter points to letters wrote by a fans honoring British singer Liam Payne in front of the hotel where he died in Buenos Aires on October 17, 2024. Tributes poured in Thursday for British singer Liam Payne, a former member of the best-selling boy band One Direction, after he plunged to his death from the balcony of a Buenos Aires hotel. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP) (Photo by LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images) (LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images)
Remembering Liam Payne A man stands in front of the hotel where British singer Liam Payne died in Buenos Aires on October 17, 2024. Tributes poured in Thursday for British singer Liam Payne, a former member of the best-selling boy band One Direction, after he plunged to his death from the balcony of a Buenos Aires hotel. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP) (Photo by LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images) (LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images)