Liam Payne’s sister has paid an emotional tribute to her “best friend” as she spoke for the first time about his death.
The singer died aged 31 on Wednesday after falling from a balcony on the third floor of the Casa Sur hotel in Argentina.
Ruth Gibbins posted on social media: “I don’t believe this is happening. Many times have I poured my heart out publicly with pride about Liam but never much about life as his sister.
“Liam is my best friend, no one could ever make me laugh as much as him, doing his impressions always had me creasing and he loved seeing how much of a laugh he could get.”
She wrote: “Liam, my brain is struggling to catch up with what’s happening and I don’t understand where you’ve gone.
“What I do 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 sorry I couldn’t save you,” she added. “One last time I need you to know, I’m here if you need anything, I’d drive to the end of the universe to bring you back.”
Geoff Payne greeted mourners outside the hotel where his son died. Pic: Reuters
Ruth said she was “always in awe” of Payne’s talent and added: “I don’t feel this world was good enough or kind enough to you, and quite often over the last few years, you’ve had to really try hard to overcome all that was being aimed at you.
“You just wanted to be loved and to make people happy with your music. You never believed you were good enough, I hope you can now see this outpouring of love that you never received in your time.”
Her tribute comes after singer Cheryl also praised Payne, with whom she has a seven-year-old son, Bear.
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The Girls Aloud star and former X Factor judge also hit out at “abhorrent reports” about Payne, saying: “It is breaking my heart further that I cannot protect (Bear) from that in his future.”
Cheryl and the One Direction singer were in a relationship between 2016 and 2018 and welcomed their son in 2017.
In a post on Instagram, she shared a photo of Payne and Bear when he was a baby lying in bed together.
“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. A son that now has to face the reality of never seeing his father again,” she said.