Kelsey Parker has shared how supportive Liam Payne was when her late husband Tom was ill(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Kelsey Parker admits Liam Payne's death is 'massive loss' and shares moving gesture towards Tom

Kelsey Parker has opened up about the support she and her late husband Tom received from the late Liam Payne after his devastating cancer diagnosis in 2020

by · The Mirror

Kelsey Parker has spoken about the death of the late One Direction singer, Liam Payne.

Liam tragically fell to his death aged 31 last week after falling from the balcony of his third floor hotel room in Argentina. Respected news portal Infobae said materials extracted from the singer's body in an autopsy following his death last Wednesday had "determined the presence of the class-A drug." But it said police tests on a white powder found in his hotel room had so far proved "inconclusive". It reported the result of a second test using chromatography, a powerful analytical separation technique, on that powder were pending.

Kelsey, 33, sadly lost her husband, The Wanted star Tom in March 2022 after the singer bravely fought n inoperable brain tumour. He died aged 33 from complications from glioblastoma. Speaking to the Mirror at the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards with TSB, Kelsey opened up about the support she and Tom received from Liam.

"It's a massive loss," she said of Liam's death. Kelsey went on to add: "When we said we wanted to do the Stand Up To Cancer gig, Liam reached out to us straight away and said he wanted to do it. He also came to Tom's funeral." Despite The Wanted and One Direction famously feuding, Liam put that to the back of his mind and performed at the Royal Albert Hall alongside Tom and his bandmates.

Tom Parker's widow, Kelsey has spoken following Liam Payne's tragic death – admitting it's a 'massive loss'( Image: Rowan Griffiths)
Liam tragically died aged 31( Image: Getty Images for ABA)

The band raised thousands for the charity in what was sadly one of Tom's last performances before his death. Sharing her advice for Liam's family, friends and fans, Kelsey said: "I think you have to take each day as it comes. Grief doesn't get any easier, you learn to live with it. You have to take your time."

Remembering her late husband Tom, Kelsey said: "I came [to the Pride of Britain Awards] with Tom four years ago. He would have loved to be here tonight. He loved to get glammed up and loved hearing the stories of all the inspirational people. We never thought we'd be in the situational we were, so I can relate. I’m such an advocate for brain tumour awareness now."

"It's amazing. It's the best night of the year. Everyone is inspirational and so amazing," she said of the annual event. Speaking about her new relationship, Kelsey added: "Life is fantastic and I'm really happy. In life, we all have to move on and go forward. I've met someone and he makes me really happy."

Following Liam's death last week, Kelsey offered her support to Cheryl Tweedy who shares son Bear, seven, with the late musician. Posting on her Instagram Story, Kelsey, 33, shared an emotional poem about losing a father written from the point of view of a grieving child.

It reads: "Dear daddy, you told me that you always be watching me from the sky. Today I am here looking for the most shiniest star that would be you looking at me. Daddy if I could have one wish it would be to have you here with me, to tell you how much I miss you, to tell you what a great daddy you were and to wish that you would never leave me again. I love you daddy."

Mum-of-two Kelsey also spoke about the tragic loss on her Mum's The Word podcast, which she records with TV presenter Georgie Thompson. Kelsey spoke about how supportive "good soul" Liam was during Tom's illness, sending her condolences to Liam's family and his son Bear.

She said: "When Tom got sick it really resonated with Liam and he reached out, he was really there for Tom - we did this whole massive gig for Stand Up To Cancer and we raised over a million pounds and Liam actually came and performed at that.

"And when Tom passed Liam came to Tom's funeral and, you know, when you just think about someone 'you’re a good soul' - he didn’t need to come to Tom's funeral. He felt that he needed to be there he was so supportive, he always used to reach out to me, 'Kels I can see that you're doing so well'. He always checked in."

Watch the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards, in partnership with TSB, ITV, on the ITV Hub on Thursday Oct 24 at 8pm.

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