Sunday, December 22, 2024

Liam Payne fans organise vigils in London, Liverpool and Buenos Aires

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Liam Payne fans have gathered for a vigil in his memory in London’s Hyde Park.

Hundreds of people stood in silence to remember Payne at the park’s Peter Pan statue on Sunday.

They brought pictures of the star and his former One Direction bandmates, alongside flowers, balloons, and handwritten notes.

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Crowds gather around the Peter Pan statue in Hyde Park on Sunday

One Direction lyrics in a frame in Hyde Park
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One Direction lyrics in a frame in Hyde Park

Liam Payne fans lay tributes to him in London's Hyde Park
Image:
Liam Payne fans lay tributes to him in London’s Hyde Park

Read more
What we know about singer’s death so far
Grief as details emerge of star’s final hours
Liam Payne: A life in pictures

Payne, 31, died as a result of multiple injuries after falling from his third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday.

Fans also organised an event for him in Liverpool on Saturday, where fans sang together and were seen in tears.

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Fans mourn Payne in Liverpool

‘Directioners’ also travelled to Buenos Aires to pay their respects outside the Casa Sur hotel where Payne died.

His father Geoff Payne travelled there on Friday to arrange the repatriation of his son’s body and stopped to observe flowers and messages left by fans.

Fans lay flowers and leave balloons for Payne in Liverpool on Sunday
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Fans lay flowers and leave balloons for Payne in Liverpool on Saturday

‘I feel pain in every part of my body’

Sisters Selena, 21, and Augustina, 25, spoke to Sky News correspondent Martha Kelner after travelling three hours from the city of La Plata to the hotel.

Selena 21 and Augustina, 25, sisters from La Plata
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Selena 21 and Augustina, 25, sisters from La Plata

“When One Direction came to Argentina in 2014 it was so exciting. We went to the concert and we were in VIP and we were so close to them,” Selena said.

“It feels like so recent, and now that Liam’s gone I feel pain in every part of my body and my heart.

“He was a beautiful person. When his dad came to see the notes around the tree we shielded him from the cameras because the love we have is so big for Liam and his family as well.”

Rocio Hipperdingar also came from La Plata.

Rocio Hipperdingar, 24, from La Plata,
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Rocio Hipperdingar, 24, from La Plata

“At first I didn’t believe it had happened. I’ve been a fan of One Direction since I was 13 and now I’m 24,” she said.

“I spent many years of my life thinking of them, listening to their music and they were my support in very bad times. I couldn’t believe when I heard he had died, I thought it was fake news. I wanted to come to the hotel because it’s about remembering all the good times I felt with their music.”

She feels as though she has “lost a friend”, she added.

Fan Aelen Urguesta, 24, from Buenos Aires, was also there. “I’m 24 and have loved Liam since I was 14,” she said.

Aelen Urquesta, 24, from Buenos Aires,  sent by Martha  Kelner
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Aelen Urquesta, 24, from Buenos Aires

“I saw him at Niall Horan’s concert in Buenos Aires the week before he died and that was wonderful to see them together.

“The most heartbreaking thing is that he passed away here and not with his family. Liam was a very important part of One Direction so it’s incredibly sad. I can’t say exactly how I feel because I am so emotional.”

Payne’s former bandmates have all paid tribute to him, with Zayn Malik postponing his upcoming US tour dates until January as a mark of respect.

His girlfriend Kate Cassidy said she is “at a loss” without her “angel”, while the mother of his child Cheryl has criticised “abhorrent” reporting around his death.

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