Louis Tomlinson shares Liam Payne picture that 'sums up' relationship and says 'I'll always be'

Louis Tomlinson has shared a photo which he says 'sums up' his relationship with Liam Payne as he paid tribute following his tragic death.

Payne, who rose to fame with the boy band on The X Factor, died after falling from a third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, on Wednesday (October 16).

The 31-year-old died of multiple traumas and “internal and external haemorrhage” as a result of the hotel fall, a post-mortem examination report said.

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After Payne’s death, five witnesses were questioned in order to reconstruct what happened, the prosecutor’s office said. Reports said staff at the hotel made two calls to emergency services with audio revealing a staff member had asked for assistance for a guest who was “intoxicated by drugs and alcohol”.

Police in the capital said the music star’s hotel room had been “in complete disarray” with “various items broken”, adding that a whiskey bottle, lighter and mobile phone had been retrieved from the internal hotel courtyard where Payne’s body was found.

The 31-year-old leaves behind his seven-year-old son, named Bear, who he shared with his former partner, Girls Aloud singer Cheryl, and Louis has vowed to be the uncle the seven-year-old needs, promising to tell him “stories of how amazing his dad was”.

Alongside a photo of the pair on stage, Louis said: "I am beyond devastated to be writing this but yesterday I lost a brother. Liam was somebody I looked up to everyday, such a positive, funny, and kind soul.

"I first met Liam when he was 16 and I was 18, I was instantly amazed by his voice but more importantly as time went on I got a chance to see the kind brother I’d longed all my life for. Liam was an incredible song writer with a great sense of melody, we often spoke of getting back in the studio together to try and recreate the writing chemistry we had built up in the band.

"And for the record, Liam was in my opinion the most vital part of One Direction. His experience from a young age, his perfect pitch, his stage presence, his gift for writing. The list goes on. Thank you for shaping us Liam."

He emotionally continued: "A message to you Liam if you’re listening, I feel beyond lucky to have had you in my life but I’m really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye. I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours , reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life. I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be.

I want you to know that if Bear ever needs me I will be the Uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was.
I wish I got chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you. Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you mate. Sleep well."

Louis also took to his Instagram Story where he shared another photo of them on stage during their time in One Direction, seemingly covering themselves in water while smiling and laughing in each other's faces. "This picture summed up our relationship," the singer explained. "I love you, I'll always be your big brother," he added.

It comes after a joint statement signed by Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis said the “memories we shared with him will be treasured forever”, adding they will be taking “some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother”.