Heartbroken Liam Payne fans broke down in tears today as they spoke of the star who ‘kept them going through tough moments’ and told of how they had been left ‘crying for three days’ following the tragic news of his death.
A vigil was held today at Hyde Park in London in honour of the passing of the One Direction singer who died age 31 falling from a third-floor balcony at a hotel in Argentina on October 16.
The singer shot to fame after auditioning for the X Factor and joining a boyband with other singers Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson in 2010.
While the band have since split up, fans of the group came together across the world – and in London – describing the news as ‘surreal’ and lamenting that they ‘should have been there’ to help.
Speaking to MailOnline, one fan, 19-year-old Tyger Paige, recounted her reaction to the tragic news: ‘I didn’t know what to do.
Speaking to MailOnline, one fan, 19-year-old Tyger Paige broke down in tears, recounting her reaction to the tragic news: ‘I didn’t know what to do’
Amelia Hitchens, aged 24, spoke of her reaction: ‘It’s literally pure shock. I thought surely not. It’s still surreal’
‘We don’t know him in-person but we all grew up with him.’
The fan then broke down in tears and spoke of the significance of the band to her: ‘It feels like we all forgot about One Direction.
‘It feels like we failed. I wish everyone just came together whilst he was alive.
‘They were everywhere. They were everything.’
Amelia Hitchens, aged 24, added: ‘It’s literally pure shock. I thought surely not. It’s still surreal.’
Fans who turned out to the vigil were not just from London, with many coming far and wide to express their grief.
Two friends – 19 and 21-year-old Asia Cecere and Ylenia Pia and had been on holiday in England from Italy when they heard the news.
Asia recounted how she first found out while visiting the Big Ben. She said she was left ‘crying for three days’ after
Asia recounted how she first found out while visiting the Big Ben. She said she was left ‘crying for three days’ after.
The tearful fan added: ‘We were on holiday here. We were at Big Ben – I was shocked. For 30 mins I was silent and I didn’t talk for the next day. I was crying for about three days.’
Ylenia Pia said: ‘They were the centre of my life.’
Another person MailOnline spoke to was 26-year-old Chiara Capuozzo.
She recounted how Liam – and One Direction – had kept her going through ‘very dark moments’.
In her ‘first year’, the emotional fan recalled how the boys were her ‘only friends’ and that they ‘kept her going’ as at that age there are a lot of ‘mental struggles’.
Chiara Capuozzo said in her ‘first year’, the boys were her ‘only friends’ and that they ‘kept her going’ as at that age there are a lot of ‘mental struggles’
Today’s event at Kensington Gardens by the Peter Pan Statue was held ‘in memory of Liam’ and to ‘honour his shining spirit and unforgettable impact’.
Bereaved attendees brought flowers, letters, drawings as well as One Direction memorabilia to lay under a picture of the star. Some came in groups and hugged and held each other as they mourned his loss.
In one touching moment, fans sang One Direction’s iconic song ‘What Makes You Beautiful — the band’s lead single from their debut album, ‘Up All Night’.
Photographs showed fans leaving messages including one which read: ‘I will love you forever Liam, thank you for saving me’ and another which said ‘going to miss you, you raised me’.’