Liam Payne death latest: One Direction star’s hotel room was ‘in disarray’ – as his family issues statement

One Direction star Liam Payne has died suddenly aged 31, after falling from a hotel balcony in the Palermo neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Local authorities have said they will conduct an autopsy and investigate the circumstances surrounding the singer’s death .

Payne’s family said in a statement issued by his spokeswoman: “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.”

Simon Cowell has responded to the news , while stars including Liam Gallagher , X Factor host Dermot O’Leary and Harry Style’s mother Anne Twist are among those to have paid tribute.

Payne rose to fame while competing on season five of The X Factor in 2010, when he was placed in the band One Direction along with Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik.

They went on to become one of the world’s most successful boybands , selling 70 million records and performing in stadiums around the world.