‘It just doesn’t feel real’ – Niall Horan shares heartbreaking tribute to Liam Payne

Niall Horan reunited with Liam Payne just days before his death

The Irish singer had recently met up with Payne at one of his concerts in Buenos Aires.

Horan said he didn't think he'd be saying goodbye to Payne forever when they parted ways after the show.

Writing on Instagram, the Heaven singer said Payne's death "just doesn't feel real".

He shared: "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 every room and always made everyone feel happy and secure.

"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."

Reflecting on their final moments together, Horan said: "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."

Horan also sent his sympathies to Liam's loved ones including his son Bear.

"Thank you for everything, Payne. Love you, brother, Nialler," he concluded.

On Thursday evening, Horan released a joint statement with the rest of his former One Direction bandmates, paying tribute to Payne.

On Wednesday night, the news broke that Payne had been found dead in a courtyard at the CasaSur hotel in the Palermo neighbourhood of Buenos Aires.

Emergency services said Payne had fallen from a third floor balcony of the hotel.

Police had been called to the hotel on Wednesday following an emergency call informing them of “an aggressive man who may have been under the effects of drugs and alcohol”.

The hotel’s manager had called police requesting “urgent” assistance. In a full transcript of the call, the manager said Payne was “drunk with drugs and alcohol.”

It was confirmed on Thursday that Payne had died from multiple traumas and internal and external bleeding caused by a fall.

During an inspection of the area where he fell, items including alcohol and a phone were found by police. Medication was also found in Payne’s hotel room, the BBC reports.

Police said there is no suggestion a third party was involved and that “everything indicates that the musician was alone when the fall happened.”