Heartbreaking moment Liam Payne's dad thanks fans and kisses pictures of son following his tragic death
Topics: Liam Payne, Music, World News
Joe Yates
Featured Image Credit: Getty/Samir Hussein/Getty/Anadolu
Topics: Liam Payne, Music, World News
Liam Payne's father has flown to Argentina to visit the site where his son died earlier this week.
Payne tragically passed away on Wednesday night (October 16) at the age of 31 after falling from a third floor balcony at the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires.
Since his death, thousands of his adoring fans have paid tributes both online and at a memorial set up for him outside the four-star hotel - where his dad, Geoff Payne, was pictured paying his respects.
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Footage shows the former One Direction star's dad kissing pictures of his son, and intimately looking at the mourners who visited, thanking them.
It is understood Geoff flew from the UK to Argentina on Friday to officially identify Liam in a morgue before beginning the gruelling process of organizing for his son's body to be safely returned to England.
While he was in the country, local media outlets have stated that he was expected to retrieve Liam's belongings that he took with him.
Martha Kelner, a Sky News correspondent stationed in Buenos Aires, spoke of the moment he visited the hotel.
She said: "Geoff paused occasionally to put on his glasses to read the notes written in English and picked up the pictures to kiss them.
"He also thanked fans for being there."
Earlier this week, his family released a statement explaining that they are 'heartbroken' by his death, adding '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." they added.
Payne had been in the Argentinian capital as he attended the concert of his former One Direction bandmate, Niall Horan, and was witnessed dancing at the gig, accompanied by girlfriend, Kate Cassidy.
Speaking about the night, Argentine Director of Emergency Medical Services, Alberto Crescenti said on the nation's Todo Noticias TV channel: " At 17.04 through the 911 integrated public safety system, we were alerted of a person who was in an internal courtyard of the management of a south house hotel.
"At 17.11 a SAME team arrived and verified the death of this man and later we found out that he was a singer in a musical group.
"Unfortunately, he had injuries that were incompatible with life, as a result of his fall, so we had to confirm his death, there was no possibility of resuscitation."