Following the heartbreaking passing of Liam Payne, his former One Direction bandmates have released a statement.
The news of Payne's death was announced on Wednesday (October 16).
At just 31 years old, Payne was reported dead after he tragically fell from a third-floor balcony at the Hotel CasaSur in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Despite authorities attending to the singer promptly, Payne's injuries were so severe that he was unable to be revived.
As tributes continue to pour in from celebrities and fans alike, Payne's former bandmates - Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson - have issued a statement.
Per Sky News, their heartbreaking statement reads: "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. - Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry."
According to reports from The Sun, the results of Payne's preliminary autopsy have now been confirmed.
The report states that the singer suffered severe injuries that led to “internal and external hemorrhaging” from the fall, according to a post-mortem carried out by two forensic pathologists in Buenos Aires.
Alberto Crescenti, head of the Buenos Aires emergency services, previously revealed Payne had a "cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death".
Further tests are currently ongoing amid the investigation into the circumstances of his death.
Payne's tragic fall came moments after staff at the hotel reportedly called the emergency services stating that a guest was behaving erratically, with staff voicing concerns over the individual's safety.
Payne shot to fame in 2010 when he auditioned for that year's season of The X Factor.
It came two years after he was sent home from 'Judge's Houses' in 2008, but this time, Liam would go on to not only make it through to the live shows, but completely change the landscape of pop music.
During his 2010 stint on the reality show, Payne was grouped with four other solo contestants to form a new boy band.
Along with Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson, the five-piece became One Direction The group quickly gained popularity in the UK and abroad, finishing third in the competition.
Following The X Factor, One Direction signed with Simon Cowell's Syco Records and released their debut album, Up All Night in 2011, which became a top seller in multiple countries.
One Direction went on to have a multitude of number one albums and singles across the globe over the years - with some comparing their popularity to that of "BeetleMania" in the 60s.
Zayn Malik would leave One Direction in March of 2015, with the remaining four members continuing to enjoy success, before eventually going on hiatus in 2016.
Our thoughts continue to go out to Payne's family, friends, and fans at this time.
