'I've travelled two hours to get here - One Direction saved my life': Fans gather to remember Liam Payne one year on
One year on from his tragic death, fans gathered at West Park to remember the life of Wolverhampton-born One Direction star Liam Payne.
Today (October 16) marks one year since the Bushbury-born star died, aged 31, after falling from the third-floor balcony of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires.
The singer's death sparked tributes and gatherings around the world, including his former bandmates, friends, and family members.
He grew up in Bushbury and attended St Peter's Collegiate School before attending the city's college.
Mourners gathered at West Park today to remember Liam, with some travelling for more than two hours to be there a year on from his death.
"One Direction saved me in a lot of ways when I was going through a difficult time with my mental health," said Tasha Turner, who had travelled from Hungerford, Berkshire to West Park. "Listening to their music brought back some life inside me, and especially Liam, knowing that he struggled with mental health as well.
"He's been someone that I really look up to, because knowing that he got through some of the really tough times in his life means that if he could get through it, I can get through it."
Friends Charlotte Knott and Lucy Talbot were also among those to travel from elsewhere in the UK, and both said they would be spending the day in and around the bandstand where the tributes were laid.
Charlotte, who travelled by train from Manchester, said: "It's my first time coming here, and with it being one year on I felt like he deserves to be remembered, he deserves to feel loved and see how special he is.
"I grew up with the boys and Liam was a huge part of my life, and ever since I've lost Liam I just feel like I've lost a part of myself."
Lucy, who got a taxi to Wolverhampton from Stoke and had been at the park since 7am, added: "Liam was a massive part of my upbringing, and when I'm here I just feel a sense of peace. I feel like he's here with us and that helps me deal with it a little bit better.
"I've been here a few times and every time I'm here I get a wave of peace, and this is all we have left of Liam now and we've just got to do him proud because we love him to pieces.
"If I could I'd just sleep on the bandstand and say 'I'm sleeping with you tonight Liam'."
