Liam Payne’s former drama teacher has told how she was ‘humbled’ to have known the singer from a young age, following his tragic death at the age of 31.
The One Direction star fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday, dying instantly from multiple injuries.
Teacher Jodie Richards told ITN on Thursday that she always remembers Liam’s “silly jokes” and recalled the hilarious moment he excitedly brought his new turtle to school.
She said:I want to tell everyone how he changed the music industry; they were the first boy band to be formed and go global.
“And I want people to remember him for what he contributed to the music industry and all the good things he did for charity.
Liam Payne’s former drama teacher has told how she was ‘humbled’ having known the singer from a young age, following his tragic death at the age of 31.
The One Direction star died on Wednesday after falling from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires (pictured in a Snapchat post hours before his death)
“I’ll remember him for all the stupid jokes he gave me. I remember he came here for rehearsals, and he was desperate to get a water turtle for his birthday.
“And his mother had bought him a terrapin and he wanted to show everyone this terrapin that he had.
“I remember he brought it in to me and he was so excited, but they live for a good 25-30 minutes, so it was like ‘there you go, but it has to go now because it can only last an hour out of the water are. ”So just the funny times, I’ll always remember him.
“He was my friend and that’s why I’ll have those memories for life. “I’m humbled by having him in my life, in many different aspects, but I’m humbled that he was my friend.”
It comes as it was revealed that police investigating Liam’s death are looking for two ‘key witnesses’ who could be among the last people to see him alive.
Liam died instantly after suffering multiple injuries that led to “internal and external bleeding” when he fell from a third-floor balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday.
Argentinian investigators are now looking for two women who spent time with Payne at the Casa Sur hotel the night before his shock death.
Both women reportedly left the hotel yesterday after waiting for the star in the lobby, Argentinian outlet Infobae reported.
There are no indications the women could have been involved in his death, but police hope they can help piece together Payne’s final moments before he plunged to his death around 5pm local time.
Speaking to ITN, teacher Jodie Richards said she always remembers Liam’s ‘silly jokes’, and recalled the moment he brought his new pet turtle to school (Liam is pictured in a childhood photo)
She said: ‘He was my friend and that’s why I’ll have those memories for life, I’m humbled by the fact that I have him in my life’ (Liam is pictured in a childhood photo)
Payne’s girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, had returned to Florida four days before his death, telling her followers “I just had to get home” after their planned “five-day trip” was extended to two weeks.
As more details emerge from the hours before Payne’s death, a hotel guest staying at the same hotel as Payne recalled hearing “violent noises.”
It comes as:
It comes after Argentine media, including major newspapers, published disturbing images believed to be from Payne’s suite, showing white powder, burnt foil and a destroyed TV screen.
Payne was found dead by police, who say they found the pop star’s medications, including clonazepam – a drug used to control epilepsy, involuntary muscle spasms and panic disorder.
There was a panicked 911 call from hotel staff about “an aggressive man possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol” who was “destroying his room” just minutes before he died.
It comes as it was revealed that police investigating Liam’s death are looking for two ‘key witnesses’ who could be among the last people to see him alive (pictured in Argentina)
Payne had arrived in South America with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy on September 30 and spent two weeks in Argentina after planning to spend only “five days” there.
During their extended trip, Payne was reunited with Niall Horan after seeing his former bandmate perform at the Movistar Arena, Buenos Aires on October 2.
On October 12, Katie, 25, returned home to Florida after saying: ‘I just need to get home’ in a TikTok video, while Payne stayed behind and checked into the £230-a-night Casa Sur hotel alone.
Just 48 hours before his death, on October 14, it emerged that Payne’s ex-fiancée, Ms Maya Henry, had initiated legal proceedings against Payne, accusing him of obsessively contacting her and ‘weaponizing’ his fans against her.
Liam’s family have said they are ‘heartbroken’ by his death at the age of 31, adding that the former One Direction star will ‘live on in our hearts forever’.
A family statement said: ‘We are heartbroken. Liam will live on in our hearts forever and we will remember him for his kind, funny and courageous soul. We support each other as a family as best we can and ask for privacy and space during this terrible time.’
Payne’s uncle Roger Harris also told MailOnline this afternoon: ‘We are all deeply saddened and trying to come to terms with it. I just hope everyone actually gives them some privacy and allows them to come to terms with it. That’s all I can say.’