Harry Styles says Liam Payne 'lived life wide open' in tear-jerking tribute

Harry Styles has broken his silence after the tragic death of his One Direction bandmate Liam Payne.

Liam's death was announced on Wednesday. The former One Direction hitmaker was holidaying in Buenos Aires with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy when he fell from the third floor of a hotel. Witnesses reported that someone was acting erratically at the hotel prior to the fall, possibly under the influence of narcotics.

The tragic incident occurred after Liam and his partner, Kate Cassidy, attended a performance by Niall Horan, his ex-bandmate. A body was found in the hotel's inner courtyard, and police were alerted by hotel staff.

Liam, who was known for being one fifth of the world-famous band, found fame in 2011 after appearing on The X Factor , when judge Simon Cowell placed him in a band with Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles , Zayn Malik and Niall Horan. Some of his former bandmates have paid an emotional tribute to him.

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On Thursday, Harry took to Instagram to share his sadness. "I am truly devastated by Liam's passing," he wrote. "His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it.

"Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious. He was warm, supportive, and incredibly loving. The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend. My heart breaks for Karen, Geoff, Nicola and Ruth, his son Bear, and all those around the world who knew and loved him, as I did."

Liam's final Instagram post saw him share a picture of the band in their heyday alongside