Liam Payne's 'heartbroken' family release statement following 31-year-old's shock death

Liam Payne's family have revealed their pain after the former One Direction singer's shock death.

In a short statement they said they'd been left "heartbroken" by the 31-year-old's death in Argentina.

"Liam will forever live in our hearts and we'll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul," they said.

READ MORE: Stars pay tribute to One Direction alum Liam Payne

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

The former One Direction member is survived by his parents, Karen and Geoff Payne, his two older sisters,Nicola and Ruth, and his seven-year-old son with Cheryl Cole, Bear.

The singer grew up in the UK city of Wolverhampton, near Birmingham, before becoming a teen sensation after auditioning for TV series The X Factor.

While he didn't make it through as a solo artist, Simon Cowell masterfully paired him up with Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik to create One Direction.

READ MORE: Liam Payne's most important role was not in One Direction

While the One Direction members are yet to comment on their loss, their family members have paid tribute to Payne following news of his death, falling from the third floor of a Buenos Aires hotel.

"Just a boy..." Styles' mum Anne captioned a post of a broken heart emoji.

"I can't believe it, I honestly have no words for this sad moment... I really can't believe it," Malik's sister Waliyha wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

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'Come back in two years': Five words made Liam Payne a star

Horan's brother Greg shared a long tribute to Payne.

"You will be forever missed Liam," he began.

"Words can't describe how much I want to grab my brother and mind him now while the world shows their memories of you and him and the boys."

If you or someone you know is in need of mental health support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. In the event of an emergency dial Triple Zero (000).

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