As news of Liam Payne’s death at the age of 31 resonates around the world, he leaves behind seven-year-old son Bear, whom he shares with singer Cheryl.
But as the Girls Aloud star, 41, deals with grief for the father of her child, the still murky circumstances under which he died may bring back horrible memories.
The former One Direction star fell yesterday from the third floor into the patio of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires before doctors confirmed his death.
Wolverhampton-born Payne is said to have been “acting erratically” and a member of staff at the hotel contacted police in Argentina and reported “an aggressive man who may have been under the influence of drugs and alcohol.”
As controversial photos of Payne’s body appear online, they are reminiscent of a heartbreaking image of one of Cheryl’s childhood friends, budding footballer John Courtney, who died of a heroin overdose in 2005.
As news of Liam Payne’s death at the age of 31 resonates around the world, he leaves behind seven-year-old son Bear, whom he shares with singer Cheryl (pictured together in 2016).
Wolverhampton-born Payne pictured with his son Bear, who he shared with the Girls Aloud singer.
It was a photo that shocked the nation: talented footballer Courtney lay dead on the ground. The image was posted by the 21-year-old’s family to warn others about drugs.
The young man from Newcastle was one of Cheryl’s closest friends and his death turned her into a staunch anti-drugs crusader.
The former X Factor star said: “It put me off drugs for life. “That nightmare devastated all of John’s family and friends.
Cheryl met Courtney at school when they were teenagers. At 17, the talented footballer was determined to follow in the footsteps of Newcastle hero Alan Shearer, but his dreams were shattered when he tried heroin for the first time.
He soon developed the habit of earning £90 a day, which led to him being jailed for stealing.
Cheryl, who was already a member of Girls Aloud, visited his house and begged him to quit drugs.
In the book Cheryl Cole: The Unauthorized Biography, John’s mother Angie revealed that the former pop star wrote her a letter begging her not to destroy his life.
“He left the note on the wall to remind him that he had to keep fighting,” he said.
As controversial photos of Payne’s body appear online, they trace back to a heartbreaking image of one of Cheryl’s childhood friends, budding footballer John Courtney (pictured), who died of a heroin overdose in 2005.
The tragedy of Payne’s death comes after Sarah Harding, Cheryl’s bandmate in Girls Aloud, died of breast cancer (pictured together in 2012).
The former One Direction star photographed with the Girls Aloud singer during their romantic relationship.
But on April 2, 2005, John’s body was found curled up on the ground. He had passed away. Cheryl, who has always been anti-drug, sent flowers to her family, who posted the photo, taken by police, to warn others about the dangers of using heroin.
Cheryl’s were among the first to arrive. This shows how down to earth she is and that she will never forget her roots,” said Mrs Courtney.
But the tragic death of footballer Courtney was not the first time Cheryl had seen someone suffer at the hands of drugs.
She is believed to have dated furniture salesman Jason Mack for 18 months between 2000 and 2002, before being chosen to be part of Girls Aloud.
Jason, who was 27 at the time, previously confessed that he put his then-girlfriend through “hell” because of his drug addiction.
“When I met her she was doing a lot of cocaine,” he told the Daily Mirror. “Some days I’d spend £200 on the stuff and drink bottles of Bud from 8am until I fell asleep God knows when.”
The tragedy of Payne’s death comes after Sarah Harding, Cheryl’s bandmate in Girls Aloud, died of breast cancer.
Speaking in a two-hour special for Radio 2 in May 2024, Cheryl spoke about missing her friend.
Cheryl and Liam Payne at the 38th Brit Awards in London in 2018
Cheryl and Liam Payne at a Christmas concert in London in November 2016
She said: ‘There are little moments you would share with her individually on stage during the tour. Where there’s no more Sarah than at that moment and I can’t describe… like no one else knew her that way apart from the four of us.’
The girl band, which now consists of Cheryl, Kimberley Walsh, Nadine Coyle and Nicola Roberts, returned for tour this year for the first time since 2013 and, during each show, they paid tribute to their dear friend Sarah.
Sarah passed away from breast cancer in 2021, and the four remaining singers decided to reunite and go on tour in an attempt to pay tribute to their late friend, admitting that “they are doing it for Sarah.”
Girls Aloud rose to fame in 2002 when they participated in the ITV reality show Popstars: The Rivals.
They competed for a spot in a girl band and then faced off against a boy band from the show called One True Voice in the hope that their song would become the Christmas number one.
Girls Aloud won with their single Sound Of The Underground and went on to achieve three more number ones and 20 top ten hits. Sarah also won Celebrity Big Brother in 2017.