Scott Mills revealed he’s been in touch with Liam Payne’s dad (Picture: Dave Benett/Trekstock/Getty Images)
Liam Payne’s dad has reached out to Scott Mills after fans rushed to offer condolences after the shock death of the One Direction legend.
Payne died last week aged 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, while reportedly on a concoction of drugs although no official toxicology results have been published yet.
In the aftermath, calls for better mental health support for artists have been gaining momentum with almost 50,000 signing a petition for ‘Liam’s Law’.
The public mourning around Payne’s death has touched the Night Changes singer’s family, with his father Geoff reaching out to Scott in response.
Scott, 51, told his Radio 2 listeners: ‘He won’t mind me saying this, I was texting Geoff, Liam’s dad, the other day when he was in Argentina and he said he has posted our tribute we did to Liam last week to the family WhatsApp group.’
The DJ had posted an emotional tribute to Payne on his social media, including re-airing a letter the late singer had written to his 10-year-old self.
Geoff Payne is in Argentina as an investigation continues (Picture: REUTERS)
Fans commented thousands of heartfelt messages to the family with fellow One Direction star Louis Tomlinson also liking the post.
Scott continued: ‘He thought it was wonderful, especially all of the messages and comments you put underneath the video on the Radio 2 Instagram.
‘He just wanted me to thank you all for all the beautiful heartfelt messages that you have put on there. He’s read all of them.
‘And for him to reach out and say thank you like that during such a difficult time where him and all of Liam’s close ones will be hurting so much just shows you what I’ve known all along. .. What a kind family they are.
‘So, sending you all our love Geoff to you and the rest of the family. And to all his friends. We’re all still thinking of you.’
In his own on-air tribute, Scott discussed how he felt like the ‘sixth member of One Direction’ due to how much time he spent with the group while at Radio 1.
One Direction spent many hours chatting to Scott (Picture: Ken McKay/TalkbackThames/REX)
Scott became emotional over the memories he has with Liam (Picture: Dave Benett/Trekstock/Getty Images)
He broke down, sharing it was a ‘really hard one to take in’ and added he ‘can’t bear that this is where Liam’s story has ended’.
‘I had so much fun with One Direction, as a lot of you will know, over the years and their memories will stay with me for life, and Liam was such a big part of it,’ Scott said.
Geoff has flown out to Argentina as the investigation is ongoing, with Associated Press reporting that a representative of the Public Prosecutor’s Office has informed him that the results of the toxicology and histopathological report would be needed to decide when his son’s body would be released.
Police in Buenos Aires have said a preliminary autopsy suggests Payne died from multiple injuries that led to ‘internal and external haemorrhaging’ after falling from his hotel room balcony.
Fans have been outside the hotel mourning Payne (Picture: Dave Benett/Trekstock/Getty Images)
Scott said Geoff has read all the tribute messages (Picture: PA)
Fans have been mourning Payne at the Casa Sur hotel where he died, leaving flowers, gifts, and various tributes outside.
While in Argentina, Geoff stopped to read the messages with the gathered mourners attempting to shield him from cameras to enable a moment of privacy.
Payne’s family issued a statement after the shock news, telling PA: ‘We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.
‘We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.’
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