Liam Payne’s death ‘didn’t feel real’, says Niall Horan

Liam Payne’s former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan has said he is “absolutely devastated” by his “fantastic friend’s time”.

Payne died Wednesday evening in Buenos Aires, and Horan traveled to Argentina to see the show on tour.

It doesn’t feel real,” Horan wrote.

“I feel so lucky to have been able to see him so recently. After saying goodbye and hugging him that evening, I unfortunately don’t know that I’ll be saying goodbye forever. It’s heartbreaking.”

In a statement posted on Instagram, Horan said: “Liam had an energy for life and a passion for his work that was contagious. He was such a light in every room and always made everyone feel happy and safe.

“All the laughs we’ve had over the years, sometimes over the simplest things, are remembered through sadness. We got to make our wildest dreams come true together, and I will forever cherish every moment we had. The bond and friendship we had doesn’t happen often in a short time.”

Horan, 31, sent his “love and condolences” to Payne’s family.

“Thanks for everything, Beno,” he signed off.

Full details on Liam Payne’s death:

The pair remained friendly after One Direction’s 2016 split, with Payne explaining to fans on Snapchat earlier this month that she visited Horan for a catch-up.

He said: “It’s been a while since Niall and I have spoken and we have a lot to talk about.

“No bad vibes or anything like that, but we need to talk,” he added.

Payne attended Horan’s concert last week and again posted social media videos of him and girlfriend Kate Cassidy singing and dancing.

Horan wrapped up his world tour on October 9 in Bogota, Colombia, before returning to his home in London.

Payne, 31, was the final member of One Direction to post a personal statement on his death.

The band, who came together on The X Factor in 2010, released a joint statement on Thursday in which they said they needed time to “grieve and process the loss of our brother”.

Harry Styles said in his personal statement His “heart breaks” for Payne’s family, adding: “His greatest joy was making others happy, and it was an honor to be with him when he did that.”

Louis Tomlinson echoed Styles’ sentiments, describing Liam as “a very important part of One Direction” who has a “gift for writing”.

Zayn spoke directly to Malik Payne, praising him for his “positive outlook and reassuring smile”.

Ed Sheeran, who co-wrote Payne’s 2017 debut single Strip That Down, responded to the news on Instagram on Friday, saying he was “at a loss for words”.

“My thoughts are with his family and loved ones, every memory I have with him is the best, such a heartbreaking situation. Please be,” he added.