One Direction fans in Buenos Aires mourn Liam Payne's death as they say 'he meant so much to us'

Devastated fans in Argentina have been left reeling from the untimely passing of ex-band member

sadly died when he fell from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Hotel in Buenos Aires, with emergency responders declaring his death shortly after the incident. Argentinian 1D supporters congregated outside the hotel on Wednesday evening, creating a poignant memorial of candles and flowers as they said their farewells to the beloved musician.

Valentina Gonzalez Sandoval, 20, a lifelong devotee since her eight year old days in 2012, was overwhelmed with emotion at the vigil, sharing with PA news agency that she was inconsolable. "Being there felt really hard, I couldn't stop crying when Liam's body was taken out of the hotel," said the distressed psychology student.

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"It was at that moment that I realised, as I was watching the vehicle leaving, that he was really gone. Liam meant so much to me, I can't believe it yet." Fan Gonzalez Sandoval shared how the band profoundly influenced her, offering solace during her parents' separation and inspiring her to study English.

"Their songs meant so much to me because I really felt and identified with lots of their lyrics," she confided. "When I was 10, my parents split and 1D was the only thing that could calm me down and make that terrible moment easier. It's been 12 years of pure happiness, admiration, laughter and so much more. It is thanks to them that I started taking English classes."

Fans were left stunned as they congregated outside a hotel, which had been cordoned off by police following an incident. Investigators clad in white suits and blue gloves conducted their examination while the public looked on. Siobhan Brier Aguilar, an American in Buenos Aires close to the scene, shared her experience with PA, saying: "Because I was already so close, I walked over.

"There were about 30 people seated on the ground and another 50 or so standing," the 29 year old recounted. "They had lit candles and were singing Walking In The Wind by One Direction seated on the street. A few people were crying and there were news anchors and reporters standing around as well."

She described the atmosphere as both calm and reverent but noted the presence of many onlookers drawn by curiosity. Despite the somber occasion, city life continued unabated as buses trundled by amidst the steadying flash of police lights. Since forming on The in 2010, One Direction, composed of Payne, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and , went on to conquer the global pop stage with multiple albums and tours before their hiatus in 2016.

Wolverhampton's own Liam Payne launched his solo career with the album LP1 in December 2019, housing hits like Polaroid, Familiar, and Strip That Down featuring Quavo.

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