Liam Payne’s heartbroken father pauses to kiss pictures of his son at fans’ makeshift shrine to One Direction star in Buenos Aires

Liam Payne‘s grief-stricken father was seen kissing pictures of his son at a makeshift shrine made by fans outside the hotel where the One Direction singer died.

Geoff Payne arrived in Argentina yesterday following the death of his pop-star son earlier this week. 

He is said to have flown to the country to organise the repatriation of his son, the Associated Press has reported. 

Mr Payne was pictured in a navy suit exiting the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, where the British star fell from a third floor balcony on Wednesday.

He was photographed visiting tributes laid out by fans outside the hotel, reading letters and kissing pictures pictures of Liam. 

Geoff Payne, the father of former One Direction singer Liam Payne, visits a memorial outside the Casa Sur Hotel where the British pop singer fell to his death from a hotel balcony, in Buenos Aires

Liam Payne ‘s grief-stricken father was seen kissing pictures of his son at a makeshift shrine made by fans outside the hotel where the One Direction singer died

He is said to have flown to the country to organise the repatriation of his son, the Associated Press has reported

He also thanked fans for being there.  

The singer’s family paid tribute to the 31-year-old on Thursday. They said they were ‘heartbroken’ following his death, adding: ‘Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.’ 

The singer was pronounced dead at the scene after falling 45ft from the balcony of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires. 

Tributes have flooded in for the popstar from millions of friends and fans of Payne, including the mother of his child Cheryl Cole. 

The Girls Aloud singer was previously in a relationship with him for two years, with the pair welcoming Bear Grey, into the world on March 22, 2017.

The grieving mother has taken to Instagram telling of her anguish as she tries ‘navigate this earth shattering event’.

Her statement read: ‘As I try to navigate this earth shattering event, and work through my own grief at this indescribably painful time.

Liam is pictured with his parents after the X Factor final in 2010

Liam Payne (pictured in 2019) was pronounced dead at the scene after falling 45ft from the balcony of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires

‘I’d like to kindly remind everyone that we have lost a human being.

‘Liam was not only a pop star and celebrity, he was a son, a brother, an uncle, a dear friend and a father to our seven year old son.

‘A son that now has to face the reality of never seeing his father again.’

Before his sudden death at around 5pm (ART) , the pop star had been attending his former bandmate Niall Horan’s tour in the Latin American country.

A heartbreaking video shows Liam Payne singing and dancing at the concert with his current partner Kate Cassidy.

Following the gig, to fans delight he posted a picture with Niall to Snapchat captioned: ‘Reunited.’

Mourning fans of Liam Payne embrace after Geoff Payne, father of Liam, visited the memorial

Kate also broke her silence on Friday after his tragic death. She took to Instagram to express her saddness, as she told her followers ‘I have been at a complete loss’, ‘nothing feels real’.

The 25-year-old wrote that she will love her ‘angel’ ‘for the rest of her life’, adding in the tribute ‘444’ which is considered an angel number in numerology.

Kate and Liam first started dating in October 2022, and made their red carpet debut at the Fashion Awards later that year. 

Just days before his death, Kate shared a touching post, dedicated to the singer.

The blonde beauty took a snap of the popstar riding horseback in the countryside. Liam could be seen wearing a casual grey T-shirt as he sat on the horse and spoke to someone who appeared to be helping him.

Over the picture, Kate wrote: ‘I am very grateful for the simple things in life’.

Before the singer’s death, he had shared a final Snapchat post showed him happily posing with Kate as they looked into a mirror. A picture originally taken last August.

The Girls Aloud singer was previously in a relationship with Payne for two years, with the pair welcoming their child Bear Grey into the world on March 22, 2017

Liam Payne arrives for a film premiere at the Odeon Leicester Square in November 2010

Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy posted a picture of the pair on her Instagram from last August

The English star rose to fame as a member of the boy band One Direction, alongside his former bandmates Harry, Niall, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson; (L-R) Liam, Niall, Louis, Zayn and Harry in 2013

Several witnesses said Payne had fallen from his room at the Casa Sur Palmero Hotel shortly after 5pm (ART) Wednesday evening; he is seen in 2018

Liam began his pursuit to stardom when he initially auditioned for X Factor in 2008.

At only 14-years-old Liam impressed judges with his own version of Fly Me To The Moon by Frank Sinatra – but was later eliminated from the show. 

However Payne gave his singing career another go auditioning for the competition again in 2010, where he quickly shot to fame as part of One Direction.

He and his former bandmates Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson, were brought together by music mogul Simon Cowell and former judge Nicole Scherzinger who saw their potential as a group.

In a joint statement released on Thursday, the four singers said they were ‘completely devastated’ by the death of their bandmate. 

‘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 – Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry.’

The group have also paid separate emotional tributes on social media, with Horan being the last bandmate to do so. He said he will ‘cherish every moment’ he had with Payne ‘forever’.

Niall Horan has shared an emotional tribute to ‘brother’ Liam Payne after his tragic death aged 31

Niall, the final band member to pay tribute, penned on Instagram: ‘I’m absolutely devastated about the passing of my amazing friend, Liam. It just doesn’t feel real’

Payne was spotted dancing at Horan’s show around two weeks ago at the Movistar Arena alongside his girlfriend Cassidy in Argentina. 

‘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 wrote.

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.

Payne said he was ‘happy to have some time away’ less than an hour before he fell to his death

Payne in a selfie he shared from Argentina hours before his tragic death 

Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson performing onstage during Kiss FM’s Jingle Ball in 2015

Dermot O’Leary stood next to Robbie Williams with One Direction band members Liam, Niall, Harry, Louis and Zayn in 2010

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.

Harry posted a photo of Liam on stage performing to a huge arena of fans alongside his heartbreaking tribute 

The singer took to Instagram to share his own emotional message to his pal, who he described as ‘warm, supportive and incredibly loving’

Harry (pictured with Liam in 2013) wrote: ‘My heart breaks for Karen Geoff, Nicola and Ruth, his son Bear and all those around the world who knew and loved him as I did’

In a statement shared to Instagram, Louis said he was ‘beyond devastated’ by his friend’s death (pictured together in 2015)

Louis also shared snaps of the pair as they larked about together on stage saying he would always be Liam’s ‘big brother’

Another selection of photos showed how close the pair were 

In a statement shared to Instagram, Louis said he was ‘beyond devastated’ by his friend’s death, and said that he will ‘always be an uncle’ for the late singer’s eight-year-old son Bear

‘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.’

Meanwhile, Simon Cowell said he was ‘truly devastated’ after the death of the singer, adding that he also felt ‘heartbroken’ and ’empty’. 

‘Every tear I have shed is a memory of you,’ he wrote in a statement on Instagram.

The 65-year-old titan of the music industry said his son Bear ‘will be so proud of everything you achieved, and how you achieved it’.

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.

In his tribute, Zayn wrote: ‘I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time’

Simon Cowell said he was ‘truly devastated’ after the death of the singer, adding that he also felt ‘heartbroken’ and ’empty’ 

Pictured left to right: Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Simon Cowell, Harry Styles, and Zayn Malik on set during One Direction celebrates 1D Day at YouTube Space LA  in 2013

In 2012, the boy band won their first Brit Award for best British single for their debut track What Makes You Beautiful, before picking up the Brit global success award a year later.

They also won Brit Awards in 2014 and 2015 for best British video for Best Song Ever and You & I respectively.

After Malik left the band, the quartet won best artist video for Drag Me Down in 2016. They picked up the same award a year later for History.

Launching his solo career after One Direction split up in January 2016, Payne released his first single Strip That Down featuring Quavo just over a year later in June 2017.

The single charted at number three while his second single was Get Low, which peaked at 26.

His third single, Bedroom Floor, went to number 21.

He then teamed up with singer Rita Ora for a hit, For You, which was the soundtrack to Fifty Shades Freed in 2018 and that was more successful – making it to number eight in the charts.

Then came Familiar with Colombian superstar J Balvin , which went to number 14.

He also released an album, LP1, which went to number 17 in December 2019.