One Direction 'completely devastated' by death of Liam Payne as band release emotional statement

The band said "the memories we shared with him will be treasured forever."

Liam Payne's One Direction bandmates have said they are "completely devastated" by the news of his death.

The 31-year-old was holidaying in Buenos Aires with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy when he fell from the third floor of a hotel. Liam was best-known for being one fifth of the world-famous band after finding fame appearing on The X Factor in 2011.

Judge Simon Cowell placed him in a band with Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan. On Thursday night the band reacted to the heartbreaking news of Liam's death saying the memories they shared with him would be "treasured forever".

In a statement signed "Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry", Liam Payne's One Direction bandmates said: "We're completely devastated by the news of Liam's passing.

"In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. 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."

Liam fell from the third floor of a hotel building in the Argentinian capital on Wednesday. Police, firefighters and ambulances were seen outside of a hotel building after Liam tragically fell. Police are said to have been called to reports of a man acting aggressively at the hotel who could be under the effect of drink or drugs.

A body was found in an internal patio of the hotel. The police were called to the hotel by the hotel manager. It's believed that Liam fell from around 13 or 14 metres and suffered "very serious injuries incompatible with life."

While City ambulance service provider spokesman Alberto Crescenti said he had fallen around 40 metres and suffered “severe injuries which were incompatible with life.”

Earlier we told how police are hunting for two key witnesses who may have been the last to see Liam alive before the star's tragic death. Local news outlet Infobae alleges that two women were with the former One Direction star at the time of his death.

It's claimed that both women left the Casa Sur Hotel, where Liam was staying, after waiting for him in the hotel lobby. It is believed the two women could help shed some light on the moments before his fatal fall into the hotel's courtyard, if they are found, although there is nothing to suggest they were involved in the death.

According to the publication, cops found and seized a bottle of whiskey, a lighter, a phone and a notebook from the singer's hotel suite. Since news of his devastating death, pictures have emerged of drug paraphernalia allegedly scattered around in his room which include white powder residue, burnt aluminium foil and also a smashed TV screen.

In a statement released last night a local ambulance manager told TN: "At 17.04 through the 911 integrated public safety system, we were alerted of a person who was in an internal courtyard of the management of a south house hotel.

"At 17.11 a SAME team arrived and verified the death of this man and later we found out that he was a singer in a musical group. Unfortunately, he had injuries that were incompatible with life, as a result of his fall, so we had to confirm his death, there was no possibility of resuscitation."

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