One Direction stars attend Liam Payne’s funeral in Britain

“Completely destroyed”

Payne rose to fame as a teenager alongside Styles, Horan, Tomlinson and Malik after appearing on British talent show The X Factor 14 years ago.

He died of ‘multiple trauma’ and ‘internal and external bleeding’ after falling from the hotel room, a post-mortem examination found.

The balcony adjoining his room overlooked a rear terrace about 45 feet high.

Hotel staff had called emergency services twice to report that a guest ‘overwhelmed by drugs and alcohol’ was ‘destroying’ a hotel room.

Investigators have said he was alone at the time and appeared to be “experiencing a substance abuse episode.”

In a short statement after his death, Payne’s family said: “We are heartbroken. Liam will live on in our hearts forever and we will remember him for his kind, funny and courageous soul.”

One Direction said they were “completely devastated” by his death.

After forming in 2010, the band released an album of radio-ready songs every year in time for the holiday shopping season, becoming one of the highest-grossing live acts in the world.

In 2016, after Malik left, the group said it was on indefinite hiatus but was not breaking up.

Payne’s first solo single Strip That Down peaked at number three on the UK charts and number 10 on the US Billboard charts.

But in recent years, he had spoken publicly about battling substance abuse and dealing with fame from an early age.

His last solo work, the single Teardrops, was released in March and a second album was announced at the time.

Payne was born and raised in Wolverhampton, central England.