The heartbreaking way Liam Payne’s sister learned of his death: ‘I went cold’

One of Liam Payne’s sisters has broken her silence over his death last week aged 31.

Nicola Payne said in a lengthy Instagram post that she found out when she saw the news “pop up” as an alert on her phone.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Toxicology reports reveal Liam Payne had multiple drugs in his system.

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The 31-year-old fatally fell 14m into the internal courtyard from his third-floor hotel balcony in Palermo, Argentina on Thursday (AEDT).

His sister posted a tribute and a series of family photos on Instagram on Tuesday (AEDT).

Liam Payne with his sisters Ruth and Nicola. Credit: np2788/Instagram

“I have posted about Liam and his achievements over the years with a proud sister alert and that has stood then, now and always!!!” she began.

“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.

“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.

“You have always shown kindness to everyone you met and it shows with just how many people have confirmed what we always knew!”

She went on to explain that there were not many family photos because they never wanted Payne to “feel like you were in a room of fans”.

“But we were your biggest fans always and forever.

“Your talent alone puts you miles ahead, but also you being you.”

Liam Payne with his family. Credit: np2788/Instagram

Nicola shared that following Payne’s death she had been looking back at their text exchange from the night she welcomed her daughter Ffion.

‘”How excited you were to meet her, the jokes we all shared and the laughter that you knew we all needed,” she recalled.

“You led your life with a motto of ‘why bother doing something unless you are brilliant at it’, and Liam you were certainly brilliant at everything you did!!

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

“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.”

She ended the post by referencing Payne’s seven-year-old son Bear, writing that his family will “make sure Bear knows about his daddy and how much you loved him, we promise this”.

“See you soon Liam, Love You xx.”

Payne’s other sister Ruth Gibbins also shared a tribute on Sunday, writing she could not “believe this is happening”.

“I poured by heart our publicly with pride about Liam but never much about life as his sister”.

She recalled picking him up from X-Factor live shows and work “went it all started”.

“Liam loved 1D, he loved his brothers and we talked about it so much,” Ruth said.

“He would just play song after song that had been recorded but never used and we’d sit and have a a mini 1D concert.

“Liam knew he could call me anytime, any day and I would pick up or that I would always fetch him if he needed to just needed to come home.

“Our calls would often result in me laughing at his ideas and next adventure, talking through his plans and working through his issues but it would always end with ‘love you miss you’ ‘love you ru’.”

Liam Payne arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2018. Credit: AP

She said she kept a list on the notes app of her phone titled “Things to tell Liam” and would fill him in on details when he was away for long periods of time.

Sharing a message directly to her brother, she said: “My brain is struggling to catch up with what’s happening and I don’t understand where you’ve gone.

“I just want to drive to your house and walk in to music blasting and find you sat there writing a song or walk in to your art phases and sit with you whilst you draw or craft.

“What I love most about you is your ability to make me laugh, I never chuckle as much as I do when I’m with you with anyone else.

“I’m always in awe of your talent, it should be illegal to be so talented and just have the ability to not only be good at things but be bloody great at everything you attempt, without even knowing you’re absolutely smashing it each time.

“I love your kindness and how proud I am to call you my brother and my best friend. You also make a great Sunday dinner too!

She went on: “You never believed you were good enough, I hope you can now see this outpouring of love that you never received in your time.

“Thank you for changing my life, thank you for the incredible memories, thank you for being the best brother and friend I’ll ever have!

“We’ll take care of Bear and he will always know how incredible his Dad is and how much you idolise him.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.”