Paddy McGuinness shares 'honest' message from Liam Payne about friends in wake of tragic death

Paddy McGuinness has shared a glimpse at some of the 'honest' messages he previously received from Liam Payne in the wake of his tragic death.

The singer, who found fame on The X Factor with the boy band One Direction, died after falling from a balcony on the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday (October 16), aged 31.

A post-mortem examination report found that Payne died of multiple traumas and "internal and external haemorrhage", as a result of the fall. Medics could not save him and he was 'instantly' pronounced dead.

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The singer's family said, in a statement issued via a spokeswoman on Thursday (October 17), that they were "heartbroken" and added: "Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul."

Famous faces from across the music industry have paid tribute to the star, who embarked on a solo career after One Direction went on indefinite hiatus in 2016, including his former One Direction bandmates.

A statement signed by Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan 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."

Paddy was also among those commenting on the sad news, with the comedian and BBC Radio 2 star appearing alongside Payne during Soccer Aid. He captained the England side in 2022 and returned a year later to gather funds for Unicef that support children around the world.

Taking to his Instagram Story, he shared screengrab of a WhatsApp exchange with the messages, seemingly from Payne, reading: "Course mate. I don't have many mates I can trust who know how I feel and since being sober I'm wanting to branch out more instead of hiding away."

Alongside the post, Paddy wrote: "I really enjoyed the small amount of time I got to hang our with Liam. His messages were always open and honest. I could never comprehend that level of fame and attention? Let alone the effect it has on someone so young? Rest in peace young un."