'I went cold': Cruel way Liam Payne's sister Nicola Payne found out about One Direction star's death

When millions of One Direction fans checked their phones on Thursday morning, they learned something no one ever wants to hear.

Liam Payne had died aged 31 after falling off a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Days later, one of Payne's sisters has paid tribute to her late brother – and she's revealed that she too found out about her brother's death through a news alert.

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Liam Payne's sister Nicola Payne has paid tribute to her brother on social media. (Instagram/@np2788)

Nicola Payne's message, shared overnight to Instagram alongside a series of family photos, began: "I have posted about Liam and his achievements over the years with a proud sister alert and that has stood then, now and always!!!"

"When I saw the news pop up on my phone that you had left us I went cold, I wanted so much for this to be untrue," her message continued.

"I have spent days hoping that it was a mistake and somebody has got it wrong. You were truly too good for this earth, you are an angel who just lived for making people smile and happy."

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She then wrote about Payne's "kindness", and how the tributes that have been flooding social media – and physical shrines set up in cities around the world – "confirmed what we always knew."

It was also revealed that Payne's family rarely took photos with him when they saw him as they "never wanted him to feel like he was in a room of fans, but we were your biggest fans now and forever."

"Your talent alone puts you miles ahead, but also you being you," she wrote.

"I have been looking back at the messages from the night I had Ffion [her daughter, born in 2020], how excited you were to meet her, the jokes we all shared and the laughter that you knew we all needed."

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Paybe, pictured here with his two sisters, died aged 31 in Argentina last week. (Instagram/@np2788)

Payne's motto, according to his sister, was "why bother doing something unless you are brilliant at it" – and she said, "Liam you were certainly brilliant at everything you did!!"

"Unfortunately this cruel world is always to quick to judge someone from a few 5 second clips, they then think it entitles them to be able to speak like they know you. We knew you and we loved you," she continued.

"I hope you have finally found peace up there and that you'll continue to look after us all as you have done in life."

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"We will make sure Bear [Payne's seven-year-old son with ex Cheryl] knows about his daddy and how much you loved him, we promise this," she pledged.

"See you soon, Liam, Love You xx," she concluded.

Over the weekend, Payne's other sister Ruth Gibbins also paid tribute to her brother, as did his exes Cheryl and Danielle Peazer, and his partner of two years Kate Cassidy.

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His father, Geoff Payne, also visited the site where he died in Buenos Aires while on a trip to Argentina to identify Payne's body.

Payne – who was open over the years about his battle with alcoholism and addiction – died on October 16 (October 17 in Australia) after falling from a hotel balcony, located on the building's third floor.

His body will not be delivered to his family until authorities conclude their final clinical tests.

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Payne's body will be released to his family when clinical tests have concluded. (Instagram/@np2788)

A preliminary toxicology report, according to reports overnight, showed Payne had multiple substances in his system at the time of his death.

In recent weeks, claims about his behaviour towards former partners had circulated online, with one reportedly taking legal action to stop him from contacting her friends and family.

He did not comment on these claims prior to his death.

If you, or someone you know would like to talk to someone confidentially about addiction, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit Reach Out.

If you or someone you know needs immediate or mental health-related support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via lifeline.org.au.

In an emergency, call 000.