Cheryl's heartbreaking vow after losing friend to heroin before Liam Payne's death

Liam and Cheryl dated for two years (Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Universal Music)

Girls Aloud's Cheryl Tweedy has opened up about her views on drug use following a personal tragedy.

Over two weeks have passed since the shocking death of One Direction's Liam Payne, who tragically fell from the third floor of an Argentinian boutique hotel. His family are still attempting to repatriate his body.

Liam leaves behind his loved ones and his seven year old son Bear, whom he had with ex-partner Cheryl in 2017.

Cheryl first encountered Liam when he auditioned for The X Factor in 2008, but their romantic relationship didn't blossom until nearly ten years later. After dating for two years, they parted ways in 2018 but continued to co-parent their son amicably.

Liam often commended Cheryl for being a devoted mother, reports the Mirror.

Cheryl posted an emotional statement after Liam's death (Image: Instagram/cherylofficial)

In his final years, Liam was candid about his battles with substance abuse. He confessed to a wild "pills and booze phase" during his sudden rise to fame as a teenager and admitted hitting "rock bottom" at the height of his success.

In 2023, he shared a YouTube video revealing that he was almost six months sober after spending nearly 100 days in rehab.

Following his death, forensic experts reportedly found traces of cocaine in his system. The manager of the Argentinian hotel voiced concerns about Liam being "off his head on drugs".

Cheryl has been vocal about drug use after losing a childhood friend (Image: SplashNews.com)

Witnesses reported seeing Liam "acting erratically" in the lobby before his fatal fall, and white powder was found in his room.

Cheryl, Liam's ex-partner and enduring campaigner against drug use, was left devastated by the untimely loss of her childhood chum to a heroin overdose back in 2005.

John Courtney, then aged 21 and a promising football talent, tragically passed away an incident that Cheryl insisted would be enough to deter anyone from drugs, as she later remarked: "It put me off drugs for life. That nightmare devastated all John's family and friends."

Cheryl recently addressed the sorrow of losing Liam through a heartfelt Instagram post, sharing a never-before-seen image of him with their boy and imploring the public for compassion and respectful remembrance amidst this harrowing phase.

Her poignant words were: "As I try to navigate this earth-shattering event and work through my own grief at this indescribably painful time, I'd like to kindly remind everyone that we have lost a human being. Liam was not only a pop star and celebrity; he was a son, a brother, an uncle, a dear friend and a father to our seven-year-old son."

Continuing her emotional plea, she shared her most profound dread; their child Bear would eventually encounter the distressing press coverage surrounding his father's passing. "

A son that now has to face the reality of never seeing his father again. What is troubling my spirit the most is that one day Bear will have access to the abhorrent reports and media exploitation we have seen in the past two days. It is breaking my heart further that I cannot protect him from that in his future."

During their whirlwind relationship, which captured hearts as the couple was affectionately nicknamed 'Chiam', there were rumours of imminent nuptials. However, towards the relationship's conclusion, Liam himself acknowledged they faced "struggles" and conceded that matters were not exactly "fine and dandy".

Cheryl shot to fame in the pop band, Girls Aloud (Image: Getty Images)

"The funniest thing was a week before we were getting married. The next week we're splitting up," he recounted to the Evening Standard's ES magazine.

In 2018, they broke hearts as they announced their intention to go "separate ways" pleading: "Bear is our world and we ask that you respect his privacy as we navigate our way through this together."

Post separation, in 2022, Liam opened up about their evolved relationship dynamics during a candid chat with American YouTuber Logan Paul, revealing: "The relationship we have now as friends has only grown more. We broke up for a reason and now she gives me full autonomy of my life and to do what I do and I know he's taken care of. He is all she cares about and I couldn't ask for more."