Liam Payne has died at the age of 31
(Image: PA)

Liam Payne’s sister says 'the world was not kind' in heartbreaking tribute

by · Manchester Evening News

Liam Payne's sister has shared a heartfelt tribute to her late brother.

In a statement posted on Instagram on Saturday, Ruth Gibbins said her brother’s ability to make her laugh is what she 'loved most' about him, adding she was 'in awe' of his talent. Today their father is in Buenos Aires to arrange the repatriation of the One Direction singer’s body.

Geoff Payne read letters and cards from fans on Friday outside the Casa Sur Hotel in the Argentine capital, where the British star, 31, fell from a third-floor balcony on Wednesday.

READ MORE: Full timeline of Liam Payne's final days and moments before tragic death

Ms Gibbins wrote: “My brain is struggling to catch up with what’s happening and I don’t understand where you’ve gone. What I love most about you is your ability to make me laugh, I never chuckle as much as I do when I’m with you with anyone else.

“I’m always in awe of your talent, it should be illegal to be so talented and just have the ability to not only be good at things but be bloody great at everything you attempt, without even knowing you’re absolutely smashing it each time.”

Fans outside the hotel in Argentina where Liam Payne fell to his death
(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

Ruth also wrote: “I don’t feel this world was good enough or kind enough to you, and quite often over the last few years, you’ve had to really try hard to overcome all that was being aimed at you.

“You just wanted to be loved and to make people happy with your music. You never believed you were good enough, I hope you can now see this outpouring of love that you never received in your time.

“Thank you for changing my life, thank you for the incredible memories, thank you for being the best brother and friend I’ll ever have.”

Tributes have flooded in for Payne, including from his former partner, Girls Aloud singer Cheryl, his One Direction bandmates, his girlfriend Kate Cassidy, and music mogul Simon Cowell.

Cheryl, who was with Payne from 2016 to 2018, said she was concerned about protecting their seven-year-old son, Bear.

“As I try to navigate this earth shattering event, and work through my own grief at this indescribably painful time, I’d like to kindly remind everyone that we have lost a human being,” she wrote in a post on Instagram.

Sharing a black and white picture of Payne in bed with Bear as a baby, she added: “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 7 year old son.

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

Cheryl, 41, urged people to give Payne “the little dignity he has left in the wake of his death to rest in some peace at last”.

Payne died of multiple traumas and “internal and external haemorrhage”, a post-mortem examination report said.

Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office No 16 said it was investigating the incident as an “inconclusive death”.

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