Vincent McAviney: UK Correspondent on Liam Payne's death, the statement from his family

The family of former One Direction star Liam Payne have broken their silence following his death.  

The 31-year-old has died after a fall at a hotel in Buenos Aires. 

He's famous for his role in One Direction, the boy band being one of the bestselling groups of all time between their formation in 2010 and their indefinite hiatus in 2016.  

UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney told Ryan Bridge Payne's family has released a statement addressing the death.  

It says they are heartbroken, and Liam will be remembered for his kind, funny, and brave soul. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Israeli Foreign Minister has just confirmed that they have
killed the so called face of evil, Yaya Sinhwa. He's
the Hamas leader, architect of October seven, Vincent Mechavin, he's
our UK europe correspondent, Vincent. How did this happen?

Speaker 2 (00:15):
Well, we, as you say, have just had that confirmation.
We know that Israel has been on a renewed offensive
the IDF in Gaza, and as we understand it, they
got into a conflict with a group of Hamas fighters.
One of them was killed. They believed it to be
Yaya Sinhwa. We saw graphic images online of someone that

(00:38):
was suspected to be him lying in rubble of a
building in the aftermath of intense military conflict with clearly
fatal injuries. Now we understand that Israel used dental records
and DNA because he was held prisoner for a number
of years by Israel in jail. He was released in
twenty eleven and they've now used DNA profiling to confirm

(00:59):
we believe that it is him. So this is a
big victory in Israeli minds. He was, as you say,
the architect of October the seventh, which killed over twelve
hundred people. Those hostages, two hundred and fifty were abducted,
some still stuck in Gaza. No hostages were recovered in
this mission, but I think in Tel Aviv they will

(01:21):
be celebrating what they think will be a clear a
part of their victory in Gaza against Hamas.

Speaker 1 (01:28):
In intro and fascinating. As you say, it sounds almost like,
you know, by accident, not that he was particularly targeted,
but that he came into confrontation with them. Let's talk
about the One Direction style. Liam Payne has obviously died
in Argentina. What's the reaction being like in the UK.

Speaker 2 (01:44):
I mean it was a real shock reaction really because
you know, One Direction were globally famous and they were
from you know, slightly humble beginnings, a reality show The
X Factor on ITV here, and he was only thirty
one years old. You know, he had been going through
struggles and he'd admitted to problems with alcohol. He had

(02:06):
been to rehab. But still for a lot of young people,
you know, this is a band that they grew up with.
They sold out concerts, they sold out albums, They were
constantly you know, in the media on TV for sort
of the five six years that they were together, so
there's a lot of shock and sadness about this. He had,
of course a relationship with Sheryl Cole, the singer from

(02:27):
Girls Allowed, a few years ago and they had a son,
seven year old, Bare Pain, and there's a lot of
sadness for that little boy. And of course Liam Payne's
wider family and his bandmates and friends. There hasn't been
any statements yet from the rest of the band, that's
of course Zaye Malik, Harry Styles Nihor and Louis Thompson.

(02:49):
But there has been a statement now from his family,
Liam Payne's family saying they are heartbroken and that Lian
will live forever in our hearts and will remember him
for his kind, funny and so.

Speaker 1 (03:01):
Very sad, isn't it very said? Thank you very much
for that update. Vincent macinbee are UK and Europe correspondent.

Speaker 2 (03:07):
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