One year after the tragic passing of Liam Payne, his sisters are openly sharing their profound grief and memories of him. Payne, a member of the globally renowned band One Direction, died at the age of 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires in October 2024. His sister, Ruth Gibbins, expressed her ongoing struggle with grief through a heartfelt tribute on social media.
Living with Loss
In her emotional message on Instagram, Gibbins admitted to being “paralysed” by grief every day since her brother’s death. “I underestimated grief, woah, did I underestimate it. I am paralysed by it daily,” she wrote. She reflected on the depth of her loss, stating, “You are the loss of my life, the one person who I will miss at every single occasion in my life.” Gibbins voiced her regret for taking for granted her brother’s presence in her life, emphasizing, “You shouldn’t have died.”
Alongside her daily battle with grief, Gibbins revealed that she experiences recurring nightmares about Payne’s final moments. “My brain is locked on your last minutes on this earth, the unaccounted minutes, the minutes I will never have the answers to, the minutes that changed everything,” she wrote, highlighting the haunting nature of her memories.
Honouring His Memory
Another of Payne’s sisters, Nicola Payne, also commemorated the anniversary of his death with a poignant statement. She expressed that she acknowledges him “every day” and often shares stories about him with her daughter, Ffion, to keep his memory alive. “A year ago today marks a date I never wanted to see again,” her statement read. “The day our lives changed forever, and our hearts were left broken, with pieces missing.”
Nicola recalled a specific moment from the night of Liam’s passing, saying, “Me and Ffion watching Dinosaur on the TV and me saying to her, next time we see Uncle Liam, he’ll be able to tell you all the dinosaurs, as he loves them.” This reflection underscores the deep emotional impact of his absence on both sisters.
In a promise to her late brother, Nicola vowed to ensure that his eight-year-old son, Bear, knows “everything about the amazing daddy he has.” Bear’s mother is pop star Cheryl, and Nicola’s commitment to preserving Liam’s legacy highlights the importance of familial bonds during times of loss.
The family’s ongoing grief serves as a reminder of the profound impact that loss can have on loved ones. Resources such as Lifeline (13 11 14) and beyondblue (1300 22 4636) continue to offer support for those struggling with mental health challenges following such tragic events.
