Liam Payne's family has been left "devastated" following the death of the singer at the age of 31, a family member has confirmed
Payne died in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday after falling from a third-floor hotel room.
His family and parents remained home in Wolverhampton as Payne had jetted to the South American country with girlfriend Kate Cassidy to watch former bandmate Niall Horan in concert.
Police in Buenos Aires say that responders first tended to the hotel in response to reports "of an aggressive man who may have been under the effects of drugs and alcohol". Payne was announced dead at the scene upon their arrival following the fall.
Following the news, Payne's mum and dad Geoff and Karen were reportedly spotted leaving their family home in Wolverhampton "in a hurry" during the early hours of Thursday.
According to The Sun, a family member answered the door to reporters following their departure where they shared some brief words about the family's current state.
Liam Payne died after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina
GETTY
"We're obviously devastated at the news but we don't want to comment," the family member told the press.
His family later issued another statement to the media, saying they're “heartbroken” by his death and adding that “Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul”.
Neighbours told reporters that while Payne's parents had left, two women arrived this morning to enter the property. They're believed to be Payne's sisters.
One nearby resident added: "They [Payne's parents] were seen leaving in a hurry at around midnight last night but I'm not sure if they had bags.
"You can't imagine what they are going through. I know Liam liked to get back here when he could.
"They will be utterly heartbroken as they very close. His hometown always had a place in his heart.
"The community is going to be devastated. I think the sisters are there now, your heart goes out to them," the local said.
Alberto Crescenti, the Argentine Director of Emergency Medical Services, spoke to the media following the discovery of Payne's body.
He explained: "The alarm was raised at 5:04pm local time saying a person was lying in an internal patio at Casa Sur. At 5:11pm an ambulance arrived and the man was certified dead.
“Our role was to head there quickly, give medical attention, and try to resuscitate him, but his injuries were incompatible with life."
Sharing a cause of death, he added: "Based on what the team saw, there was apparently a cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death.
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Liam Payne fell from the third floor balcony of his hotel room in Argentina
PA"Afterwards we found out he had been a famous singer. Unfortunately, the injuries he had suffered as a result of the fall proved to be fatal.
"There was no possibility of resuscitating him."
Tributes from across the globe have flooded in for Payne following his death, including the likes of Dermot O'Leary and the mum of former bandmate Harry Styles.
Music mogul and former One Direction manager Simon Cowell is yet to release a statement about Payne's death but did postpone Britain's Got Talent auditions as he mourns the singer.