Zayn Malik pays emotional tribute to Liam Payne after his tragic death aged 31

Zayn Malik has paid an emotional tribute to Liam Payne following his death aged just 31.

The statement was posted to Instagram alongside a picture of the pair, who - alongside Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan - were former members of One Direction.

Along with the caption 'Love You Bro', Malik's statement said: “Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me, I can’t help but think selfishly that there were so many more conversations for us to have in our lives.

“I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life.

“When I was missing home as a 17 year old kid you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know you were my friend and that I was loved.

“Even though you were younger than me you were always more sensible than me, you were headstrong, opinionated, and gave no fucks about telling people when they were wrong.

“Even though we butted heads because of this a few times, I always secretly respected you for it.

“When it came to music Liam, you were the most qualified in every sense. I knew nothing in comparison, I was a novice child with no experience and you were already a professional.

“I was always happy to know, no matter what happened on stage we could always rely on you to know which way to steer the ship next.

“I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly. I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever.

“There is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated.

“I hope that wherever you are right now you are good and are at peace and you know how loved you are.

“Love you bro.”

Payne fell from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and suffered 'severe injuries which were incompatible with life'.

An initial autopsy has already been performed on Payne's body, confirming the singer had died from 'internal and external haemorrhaging' sustained from the fall, per reports from Marca and The Mirror.

However, it's understood that further toxicology tests are ongoing.

Alberto Crescenti, the head of the state emergency medical system, confirmed that the singer died after falling 40 metres from his balcony.

He said: "The alarm was raised at 5.04pm local time saying a person was lying in an internal patio at Casa Sur.

"At 5.11pm an ambulance arrived and the man was certified dead.

"Afterwards we found out he had been a famous singer. Unfortunately the injuries he had suffered as a result of the fall proved to be fatal. There was no possibility of resuscitating him."