Liam Payne spent his final birthday ‘doing what he loved’ with a trip bowling alongside his beloved parents and girlfriend Kate Cassidy just weeks before his tragic death.
The singer, who turned 31 on August 29, plunged 45ft from the third floor into the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires on Thursday, with his grieving loved ones revealing they’d left ‘heartbroken’ by the loss.
Liam spent his big day with his family and friends, including parents Karen and Geoff and sister Nicola and Ruth on a trip to Manchester and they are said to have later stayed with the singer at the city’s swanky Stock Exchange Hotel, which is owned by Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs.
The late singer took to Snapchat during the celebrations and was full of jokes teasing to his followers that his security guard would be sacked if he beat him again bowling.
In the clip Liam moaned that ‘nothing rhymes with 31′ until Kate suggested ’31 the dirty one?’, laughing he replied: ‘No it’s dirty 30, I’ve surpassed that’.
He also showed off the hoodie his girlfriend bought him before they headed to the lane to catch up with his nearest and dearest.
A source told The Sun: ‘Liam was with his mum in Manchester where they celebrated his birthday with family.
‘They were still incredibly close and enjoyed spending time together bowling. Liam’s family stayed with him for a few days at the Stock Exchange Hotel.
‘It’s tragic to think that ended up being the last time they would celebrate his special day with him.’
Liam’s grieving family revealed they were ‘heartbroken’ by his death and added that the former One Direction star will ‘forever live in our hearts’.
Their statement said: ‘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.’
Liam uncle Roger Harris also told MailOnline: ‘We are all just deeply saddened and trying to come to terms with it. I just hope everybody gives them some privacy really and allows them to come to terms with it. That’s all I can say.’
Another relative speaking at Payne’s family home in Wolverhampton – the city where he was born and grew up – told MailOnline: ‘We are utterly devastated by the news.’
Liam was raised in Wolverhampton by his mother Karen, a nurse, and father Geoff, a fitter.
Nine weeks ago Geoff posted a sweet image of his son and his dog as he penned in the caption: ‘#Like if you love my son!’ – a post which has since been flooded with messages of condolence for their family.
Neighbours said Payne’s parents left their £600,000 four-bedroom detached house last night at around midnight while Nicola and Ruth were seen entering the property at 9am this morning.
One local resident, who did not want to be named, said: ‘They were seen leaving in a hurry at around midnight last night but I’m not sure if they had bags.
‘You can’t imagine what they are going through. I know Liam liked to get back here when he could. They will be utterly heartbroken as they were very close.
‘His home town always had a place in his heart. The community is going to be devastated. I think the sisters are there now. Your heart goes out to them.’
A second neighbour said: ‘I think they left last night at around 12pm. The parents aren’t here. All I can say really is condolences to them.’