RAW LOSS SIDA

Candle vigil, songs and flowers to remember tragic star

- CHRISTOPHER BUCKTIN

STANDING just two dozen yards from where Liam Payne tragically fell to his death, it is impossible not to be struck by the raw grief that hangs heavy in the air.

The early morning sun casts a long shadow on the pavement, finally drowning out the light from the sea of candles lit by mourners.

A constant stream of One Direction fans, some clutching photos of the star, others just staring in contemplation, arrive to pay their respects.

Their shared grief binds them as tightly as the band's music once did.

Many speak softly to one another, no doubt sharing memories, recounting concerts they attended and albums that became the soundtrack of their lives.

Less than two days after his passing, an emotional undercurrent runs deep - it seems more than just the loss of a boyband star but the passing of a figure who touched the lives of millions.

The memorial grows larger by the hour. Half-burned candles flicker in the spring Buenos Aires air, some placed in neat rows, others in a circle around a large photo of Liam smiling, taken at the peak of his career when the band were at the height of their powers.

It is a bittersweet image now.

BLOOMS

The floral tributes are striking in their variety, as if the fans have sought to brighten the space with the brightest blooms they could find.