An English radio host has recalled Liam Payne’s “childlike joie de vivre” following his death at the age of 31 on October 16.
Siân Welby, who co-hosts Capital Breakfast, has interviewed the late One Direction star — who died after falling several stories from his balcony at the CasaSur Palermo hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina — on numerous occasions and says he was “an interviewer’s dream”.
“He’s always up for a laugh and a game to play with anything you throw at him,” Welby, 38, tells PEOPLE. “In one of my interviews with him, he literally let me taser him! Despite all his fame and success, he always seemed like a very down-to-earth guy who didn’t forget his roots.”
One of Welby’s fondest memories of the “Strip That Down” singer? When she bought him a birthday present.
“I remember I bought him a Batman Lego for his birthday because I knew he loved Batman! He was beside himself and took it with him after the interview. He really had this cheeky, childlike zest for life,” she says, adding that Payne’s death is “tragic” and “devastating.”
Sian Welby and Liam Payne.
Sian Welby/Instagram
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Following the news, Capital FM dedicated an entire morning show to Payne and his legacy, playing One Direction songs and his solo music, including his hit “Strip That Down”.
“We had fans from all over the world messaging us, supporting each other and sending their thoughts and prayers to his friends and family,” explains Welby. “It was a really moving show.”
As for Payne’s legacy, Welby thinks his kind nature will be what he will be most remembered for.
“He will be remembered for how empathetic he was to his friends and fans,” she says. “You can see the outpouring of love and people expressing how much he helped others in difficult times and it speaks volumes for his character.”
“He went from being a little boy in Wolverhampton with a dream to being part of the biggest boy band in the world. He has achieved so much in such a short period of time,” says Welby, noting that Payne was “so passionate” about his career and his One Direction bandmates.
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According to an ABC News report, a partial autopsy revealed that Payne had “multiple substances in his body” including “pink cocaine,” a substance that includes a combination of methamphetamine, ketamine and MDMA.
Payne’s body will remain in Argentina until an autopsy is completed.
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Following his sudden death, Payne’s family released a statement saying they were “heartbroken” by the news. “Liam will live forever in our hearts and we will remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul,” they said in a statement to multiple media outlets, including the BBC and PA Media.
“We are supporting each other as best we can as a family and are asking for privacy and space at this terrible time,” the statement said, according to the BBC.
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Source: HIS Education