X Factor star says Liam Payne would still be alive if it wasn't for single taxi ride

Rebecca Ferguson said she had attempted to contact her former X Factor co-star Liam Payne a week before his death because she had been "worried about him for a while".

The horrifying details surrounding the tragic death of One Direction star Liam Payne have been confirmed by authorities, who revealed that he "jumped from the balcony" of his hotel room in Argentina, according to reports. The investigation into Liam's death is escalating, with police searching for a drug dealer after narcotics were found in his hotel suite.

Following the tragic news fans from across the world have united to pay their respects and dozens of celebrities have paid tribute to Liam. Shocked and saddened by the news some celebrities, like Sharon Osbourne and Rebecca Ferguson, have hit out at the music industry for allowing such tragic incidents to happen.

READ MORE: Harry Styles says Liam Payne 'lived life wide open' in tear-jerking tribute

Rebecca, who appeared in the final of The X Factor with One Direction in 2010, said she was "in denial, shocked and hurt" after Payne fell to his death from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She told One Direction fans: "I'm upset with the people that profit from him, why were you allowing this person to spiral," Reebecca said on a live Twitter Space with One Direction fans.

"I could see it, I tried to reach out last week. I just can't get my head around why no one intervened, why no one was stepping in, why he had no security with him, where was the security person?" Rebecca said she had attempted to contact Liam "last Saturday".

"I sent a message to some of the fans and I said 'I'm really worried about Liam, how do I get in touch with him?' and no one knew how," the 38-year-old said. "They said 'don't bother with management', because I was going to send an email to them. But I've been worried about him for a while because I could see that he was not in a good place, and I thought he might have been triggered by a lot of the stuff that has been in the news here lately as well."

Rebecca said she joined the live Twitter chat, titled Liam and Directioners, because "I wanted to feel that I was part of something" following the singer's death aged 31. She said: I'm so heartbroken for that little lad that I knew. When we all lived together, and we toured together, we were like a family. So I just keep picturing that young boy, I just keep picturing how happy he was. I'm still in a bit of shock."

Rebecca said she found it "disgusting" that there were pictures circulating online, allegedly from Liam's hotel room. But the singer said that it was "so lovely that he was so loved". It comes after Rebecca posted a statement on Twitter, describing Liam as "young, innocent and unaffected by fame" when they met at London Euston train station and shared a taxi together to the X Factor studio.

"If he hadn't jumped on that train and jumped in that taxi I believe he would be alive today," she wrote.

Representatives for Payne have been contacted for comment.