Zayn Malik shares candid tribute to One Direction bandmate Liam Payne following shock death: ‘Loved you dearly’

Zayn Malik, 31 has candidly reflected on his relationship with fellow One Direction star Liam Payne, who died on Wednesday after falling from a hotel balcony.

Admitting they “butted heads” a few times, the singer shared a heartbreaking post, full of praise for the band’s “most qualified” momeber.

Taking to Instagram, Malik penned: “Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me, I can’t help but think selfishly that there was so many more conversations for us to have in our lives.

“I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life.

“When I was missing home as a 17 yr old kid you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know you were my friend and that I was loved Even though you were younger than me you were always more sensible than me, you were headstrong, opinionated and gave no f***s about telling people when they were wrong.

“Even though we butted heads because of this a few times [laughing emoji] I always secretly respected you for it.When it came to the music Liam, you were the most qualified in every sense. I knew nothing in comparison, I was a novice child with no experience and you were already a professional.

“I was always happy to know, no matter what happened on stage we could always rely on you to know which way to steer the ship next.

“I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly. I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever.

“There is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated.I hope that wherever you are right now you are food and at peace and you know how loved you are. Love you bro.” (sic)

It comes shortly after the former band issued a joint statement expressing their devastation, which was soon followed by Louis Tomlinson’s own social media tribute.

It comes after Payne fell to his death from the balcony of an Argentinian hotel on Wednesday. He had been holidaying at Buenos Aires with his girlfriend, who had left a few days earlier.

Alberto Crescenti, the city’s ambulance service provider spokesman, told the media shortly after: “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.

“Based on what the team saw, there was apparently a cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death.”

“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.”

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Buenos Aires stated responders first arrived at the hotel in response to reports “of an aggressive man who may have been under the effects of drugs and alcohol”.

While tributes have been flooding in all day, Payne’s family said in a statement issued by his spokeswoman earlier on Thursday: “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.

“We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”

Payne, along with Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan, shot to fame in 2011 with the formation of their band, One Direction, created by Simon Cowell on the X Factor.

As famous faces took to social media to shares messages of support and sadness over the tragedy, some also took the opportunity to illustrate issues in the music industry.

LISTEN HERE: Translated transcript of emergency 911 call from staff in Liam Payne’s Argentinian hotel

Some cryptic messages were left in tributes from other former X Factor contestants, with one going as far as to warn the music mogul not to speak out about Payne’s death.

Katie Waissel also sent a clear message to music mogul Cowell as she penned: “”My heart is completely torn to shreds right now, I am at an absolute loss for words.

Payne leaves behind a seven-year-old son, Bear, whom he shared with former X Factor judge Cheryl Cole.

Cheryl hasn’t issued a statement of her own but has been acknowledged in some of the many tributes which have flooded in for Payne.

Former X Factor star Shayne Ward, who’s currently competing in the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, took to Instagram to pay his respects to Payne and offer Cheryl his condolences.