Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson are among the first One Direction members to publicly grieve following the sudden passing of their former bandmate, Liam Payne.
The British artists shared tribute Instagram posts on Thursday afternoon (October 17), one day after Payne died after he fell from the balcony of the Casa Sur hotel in Buenos Aires.
According to People, the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office confirmed that Payne, died from "internal and external" hemorrhages of the skull, thorax, abdomen and limbs. Coroners stated that 25 injuries from the impact were "compatible with those caused by a fall from a height" and added that "the head injuries were sufficient to cause death."
In Malik's post, the former 1D singer shared a throwback picture of him and Payne nestled together while asleep as teens.
"Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me, I can’t help but think selfishly that there were so many more conversations for us to have in our lives," the Room Under the Stairs artist wrote.
He continued, "I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life. When I was missing home as a 17 yr old kid you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let you know. that you were my friend and I was loved."
Malik went on to express that although Payne was "younger" than him, the late singer was "more sensible," and that while they "butted heads" because of their differing personalities, Malik "secretly respected" him.
Malik called Payne's talent "the most qualified in every sense," and wrote "I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what I’d give just to give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly."
Tomlinson posted an equally cathartic tribute, writing that he was "beyond devastated" and "lost a brother" in Payne.
"Liam was somebody I looked up to everyday, such a positive, funny, and kind soul," the Faith in the Future artist continued.
"I first met Liam when he was 16 and I was 18, I was instantly amazed by his voice but more importantly as time went on I got a chance to see the kind brother I’d longed all my life for," he wrote.
After sharing memories of recording with Payne and "struggling with the idea of saying goodbye," Tomlinson added that he was "so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life."
"I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be," he wrote.
Although other 1D members Harry Styles and Niall Horan haven't published individual statements, a joint statement was published to Instagram on Thursday.
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