Liam Payne’s family issue statement following his death

'Liam will live forever in our hearts'

The 31-year-old was found dead at a hotel in Buenos Aires on Wednesday night, with emergency services stating he fell from a third-floor balcony at the hotel.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Since then, tributes have poured in from friends and fans across the world. Now, his family have released their first statement following his passing, Sky News reports.

The statement said: "We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we'll remember him for his kind, funny, and brave soul.

"We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time."

Payne was found dead in a courtyard at the CasaSur hotel in the Palermo neighbourhood of Buenos Aires on Wednesday night, according to local authorities.

The singer had been in Argentina for the concert of his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan, the Sun reports.

After the news of his death broke, there were emotional scenes outside the Hotel CasaSur as fans gathered to pay tribute to the singer.

Emergency services said Payne had fallen from a third-floor balcony of the hotel.

The head of the Buenos Aires’ SAME emergency medical service, Alberto Crescenti, told local television Payne had suffered “very serious injuries incompatible with life as a result of his fall” and there was “no possibility of resuscitation”.

He told Argentina's TN network: "According to what the team saw, he had a fracture at the base of the skull. Very serious injuries."

Police had been called to the hotel following an emergency call informing them of “an aggressive man who may have been under the effects of drugs and alcohol”.

Police had been called by the hotel manager requesting “urgent” assistance. In a full transcript of the call, the manager said Payne was “drunk with drugs and alcohol”

He asked for police to send someone “with urgency because I don’t know if the guest’s life is in danger because he is in a room with a balcony, and we are afraid he could do something that threatens life.”

His body has been sent for an autopsy to help investigators determine what led up to his death and if there were any contributing factors.