Niall Horan ‘Absolutely Devastated’ Over Death of ‘Amazing Friend’ Liam Payne: ‘It Just Doesn’t Feel Real’

Niall Horan joined his former One Direction brothers in paying tribute to their late bandmate and friend Liam Payne in a heartfelt personal tribute posted on Friday morning (Oct.18). After a group statement from the former 1D members and individual notes from Harry Styles, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson, Horan’s emotional letter touched on the universal feeling of wishing you had one more goodbye, one more hug, or just another quiet moment with the ones you love.

“I’m absolutely devastated about the passing of my amazing friend, Liam. It just doesn’t feel real,” Horan wrote in an Instagram post featuring a smiling photo of the two from their One Direction days. The tribute came less than 48 hours after a preliminary autopsy report said Payne, 31, died following a fall from the third-floor balcony of his hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, sustaining multiple, mortal injuries.

“Liam had an energy for life and a passion for work that was infectious. He was the brightest in every room and always made everyone feel happy and secure,” Horan continued. “All the laughs we had 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.”

Horan said he felr fortunate that he got to see Payne recently when the “Strip That Down” singer attended one of Niall’s shows at the Movistar Arena in Buenos Aires on Oct. 2. “I sadly didn’t know that after saying goodbye and hugging him, I would be saying goodbye forever. It’s heartbreaking,” Horan lamented. His tribute concluded with a message of love for Payne’s family, including the late singer’s seven-year-old son, Bear.

“Love you brother,” he concluded.

Horan’s older brother, Greg, wrote that he too was “heartbroken” over the loss of Payne. “You were a top young boy to a man a son a brother you are only one of 4 lads I was happy enough to take my place in nialls life as a brother you will be forever missed,” he wrote.

In an earlier solo message, Styles said he was “truly devastated” by the loss of his friend, sharing that Payne’s “greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it.”

Tomlinson lamented the loss of his “brother,” saying, “Liam was somebody I looked up to everyday, such a positive, funny, and kind soul.” Zayn’s message nodded to the times the two “butted heads,” but focused on the kindness Payne showed him during dark days. “I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life,” he said. “When I was missing home as a 17 yr old kid you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know you were my friend and I was loved.”

In addition to their own posts, 1D also issued a joint statement on Thursday (Oct. 17), writing that, “the memories we shared with him will be treasured forever.”

Local authorities have said that believe Payne was not sober at the time of his death, reporting that they found substances that appeared to be narcotics and alcoholic drinks in his room. In the moments leading up to the star’s death, a hotel manager called 911 to report that a guest was “overwhelmed with drugs and alcohol” and “destroying [their] entire room”; by the time police arrived on scene, Payne had already fallen from the balcony of his room and died due to his injuries.

At press time there was no information on funeral arrangements for Payne.

See Horan’s tribute below.