Liam Payne’s sister Nicola shares her ‘unbearable’ pain one year on from his death as fans pay tribute at Argentina shrine to One Direction star

Liam Payne’s sister has shared a heartbreaking post describing his loss as ‘a pain that will never heal’, as fans commemorate the year since his tragic death.

The One Direction star died at the age of 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina on October 16 last year, while under the influence of drink and drugs.

Nicola Payne shared a few special photos in her tribute last night and touchingly revealed how the family are keeping the memory of her eight-year-old son Bear alive so he can ‘learn all about his wonderful dad’.

In his touching message, he also revealed that he was trying to make his nephew Ffion remember his uncle by comparing him to ‘a star in the sky’ and ‘a rainbow, a butterfly, a cloud’.

He told how he was tragically sitting at home with Ffion when the news came that his brother had jumped to his terrible death from the third floor of the Casa Sur hotel in Buenos Aries.

Yesterday afternoon, dozens of fans gathered outside the hotel where a shrine has been erected to commemorate Liam.

The group of mourners, many holding bouquets of flowers and balloons, stood silently on the sidewalk.

Nicola’s four-page tribute on Instagram reads: ‘One year ago today marks a date I never want to see again.

Fans of singer Liam Payne gathered outside the Casa Sur hotel in Buenos Aires

‘The day our lives changed forever, our hearts were left broken and missing pieces.

‘You didn’t realize what you were going through that night, you were alone. Me and Ffion are watching Dinosaurs on TV and we tell him: next time we see Uncle Liam, he’ll be able to tell you all about the dinosaurs because he loves them.

‘As those words left my lips and the dinosaur pictures I took to show you are still on my phone today, I didn’t know there wouldn’t be a next time.

‘Not everyone would have the chance to do something so normal. This will never happen for us.’

He added: ‘The next thing is to find out he’s gone. Without even a moment to understand, we learned along with the world, praying that the world had misunderstood until the hours passed and it was confirmed.

‘We couldn’t say goodbye; We didn’t know that all the endings had already happened.

‘We sit and listen to the world’s opinion, their opinion of what we should do, what they think they know, and like most of your life, it doesn’t seem fair.

‘We received only a tiny fraction of the mockery you were subjected to in life and death, and it was unbearable.

‘I continue to receive you every day as if you were still with us. I talk to Ffion about you and include you in everything we do, we look for the brightest star in the sky because that’s Uncle Liam.

Liam photographed with his two sisters Nicola and Ruth

Hundreds of fans brought flowers, candles and posters to the place where Payne passed away in 2024

‘We let the rain go before we walk to school because it’s Uncle Liam. Seeing a rainbow, a butterfly, a cloud because that’s Uncle Liam.

‘Accidentally losing a balloon floating slowly into the sky, knowing it meant Uncle Liam had joined in the celebration.

‘But with these moments comes a pain, a pain that will never heal. There is always someone missing and I know this will remain as long as I live.

‘We will always keep talking about you, so the children will know the precious, kind, extraordinary, extremely talented, one-of-a-kind uncle they have.

We’ll make sure ‘Bear’ knows all about the amazing daddy he has; not just your successes and accomplishments over the years, but everything that makes you, you.

‘The little jokes you told as kids, the things we laughed at over the years, the little jokes, your thoughtfulness, how much you cared, your smile, your wish for everyone to succeed.

‘You always loved being our cheerleader and you had plans, lots of plans. My hopes and dreams for you are still the same.

‘You’re happy, you know how loving you are, you’re at peace, you’ve got friends up there, people you can chat to, people you can be with, you’re that funny, loving person.

‘I hope you still light up the places you enter, your laughter brightens people’s moods, our grandmothers and grandfathers bring you on stage whenever they get the chance, and the crowds seem to listen to this child who sings and smiles as if he was born for it.

‘But I also hope that now you can watch us from the best seat in the house.

‘Sometimes it comforts me to believe that you can see the things I want to share with you, but sometimes it breaks my heart that we can no longer hear about your life or tell you about ours.

‘I hope you’re proud of us, and if you are, you continue to be. We really try, but sometimes it’s hard.

‘I don’t want you to be a picture on my shelf or a video on my phone. I want you to be here with us, where you need to be.

‘I love you, Liam. ‘I will never miss you and I will be proud of you forever.’

Mourners from around the world came to the memorial service to remember the singer

Nicole ended the tribute with a purple heart emoji and two kisses, and included photos of herself with her brother and other sister, Ruth, as well as her mother, Karen.

Yesterday afternoon, dozens of fans gathered at the Casa Sur Hotel in the Palermo district to commemorate the first anniversary of Liam’s death.

Fans have erected a shrine in a tree at the entrance of the Casa Sur Hotel, where Payne tragically died on October 16 last year.

The group of mourners stood silently on the sidewalk and took up part of the street. Hotel staff were pacing up and down the street, nervous.

Hotel manager Esteban Grassi and general manager Gilda Martin, who were working on the day of Payne’s tragic death, were nowhere to be seen.

‘I listened to your music for the first time during the pandemic period. I was going through a very difficult time and his music comforted me. I couldn’t believe it when I heard he died. “It still hurts,” said Florencia, 16, from the slums of Buenos Aires.

“I’m here to pay my respects to him,” said Alejandro, 26, who lives in General Rodríguez, a small town 35 kilometers from the capital, and sells One Direction memorabilia on the sidewalk.

Mourners also came from other corners of the world.

‘I asked my family to be in Buenos Aires on this date. Liam has been in my life since I was little. “I brought him a knitted Batman toy and some flowers,” says Carla, a 28-year-old young woman who flew in from Guadalajara, Mexico.

‘I felt like I had to come here to get some closure,’ said Nadieska, 28, who traveled from Linares, Chile.

‘My childhood was filled with domestic violence and I took refuge in the music of One Direction. Thanks to them, I learned English and traveled abroad. ‘I named my dogs Tom and Liam,’ she giggled, her eyes teary.

‘This is my first time here. I felt like I couldn’t miss this. As a fan, his passing felt like I lost a member of my family. “I lost my brother a while ago and I never fail to visit him when his anniversary approaches,” said Daisy, 24.

“We were on holiday in Italy a year ago when this happened and I promised her that day we would visit Liam in Buenos Aires, so here we are,” said Diana, as her 20-year-old daughter Lina looked sadly at the ground. They flew from Bogota, Colombia, to pay their respects to the late pop star.

There was a small pink speaker playing Liam Payne’s songs in the background. A large poster was displayed showing fan mail from all over the world.

More young women arrived, carrying bouquets of flowers. Some were greeted by other fans; They hugged each other in pain.

Twenty purple balloons were released into the sky. Fans cried and applauded their lost idol once again.