Niall Horan breaks silence with Liam Payne tribute - 'He was the brightest in every room'

"The bond and friendship we had doesn't happen often in a lifetime"

Former One Direction star Niall Horan has opened up on his devastation following the tragic passing of his ‘amazing friend’ Liam Payne.

The Mullingar member of the What Makes You Beautiful boyband paid a poignant tribute to his ‘brother’ and one-time bandmate Liam, who sadly died following a fall from a hotel balcony in Argentina on Wednesday evening.

The devastating incident occurred during Payne's holiday in Buenos Aires with girlfriend Kate Cassidy, which included supporting ex-bandmate Horan at his concert.

READ MORE - Liam Payne and Niall Horan 'ended friendship on good note' days before hotel tragedy

READ MORE - Liam Payne 'jumped from balcony' claim police as they share final moments before his tragic death

Liam had flown to Argentina at the beginning of the month and attended Niall's The Show: Live on Tour performance at the Movistar Arena in Buenos Aires.

Now Niall has opened up on the loss of his close friend and former bandmate, sharing that the news "doesn't feel real" but that he feels "fortunate" that he "got to see him recently".

In a touching tribute, Niall wrote that “all the laughs” the pals had over the years keep returning to his mind in the midst of the sadness he felt hearing the news the 31-year-old singer had passed.

Sharing a photo of the two as they were about to be propelled into mega-stardom, Niall continued to praise Liam following his untimely passing, sharing the star had an “infectious” energy for life.

“I'm absolutely devastated about the passing of my amazing friend, Liam. It just doesn't feel real,” Niall wrote in an Instagram post.

“Liam had an energy for life and a passion for work that was infectious. He was the brightest in every room and always made everyone feel happy and secure.

“All the laughs we had over the years, sometimes about the simplest of things, keep coming to mind through the sadness.

“We got to live out our wildest dreams together and I will cherish every moment we had forever. The bond and friendship we had doesn't happen often in a lifetime.

“I feel so fortunate that I got to see him recently. I sadly didn't know that after saying goodbye and hugging him that evening, I would be saying goodbye forever. It's heartbreaking.

“My love and condolences go out to Geoff, Karen Ruth, Nicola, and of course his son Bear. Thank you for everything, Payno. Love you brother. Nialler."

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