Liam Payne friends feared for his life amid drug battle: ‘Ending everyone prayed would not happen’

Liam Payne’s circle were worried about the singer in the months before his death, during which time he checked himself out of rehab after just two days.

People in Liam Payne’s circle were desperately worried about him in the months before his death — and feared his drug addiction would end in tragedy, multiple sources tell Page Six.

The former One Direction singer had struggled before his tragic death in Argentina last week, as one music industry source who had worked with him told us: “This is the ending everyone prayed would not happen, but worried would come to pass.”

Payne, 31, spiralled while living away in Florida, away from friends and family, and was pushed to go back on the road shortly after leaving rehab, as Page Six reported.

Liam Payne’s inner circle were reportedly worried about him in the months before his death. Picture: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

The singer’s initial toxicology report showed he had a cocktail of drugs — including crack and “pink cocaine” — in his system at the time of his death, according to reports Monday.

But his struggles were common knowledge to loved ones and people who had worked with him in both One Direction and on The X Factor, the UK TV show where he found fame.

His sister Nicola posted a tribute on Instagram Monday, writing, “You were truly too good for this earth, you are an angel who just lived for making people smile and happy. You have always shown kindness to everyone you met and it shows with just how many people have confirmed what we always knew!”

Payne checked into rehab just weeks ago but checked out after only two days. Picture: Hanna Lassen/Getty Images

Payne had been persuaded to go to rehab just weeks ago in an attempt to get his life back on track, but left after only two days.

Payne checked into The Priory, an addiction and mental health clinic in London, in late July.

The Sun reported that the singer signed up to a 28-day addiction therapy program to finally get well for his son Bear, 7, and his family. This was confirmed by Page Six.

However, the outlet is told Payne barely left his room at the $US6,400-a-night centre and exited after just 48 hours.

Sources say reports claiming Payne was only told he had been dropped by his record label, Universal, and his publicist days before his death are wrong. Instead, we are told he found out more than a month ago.

Another senior music source added, “Universal execs were the ones uncomfortable with Liam going on the road and rushing back into the limelight after rehab.”

Outside of the label, Payne was working with young staffers pushing him to go back on tour right after his early rehab departure. He parted ways with his manager before his death, Page Six is told.

ABC News reported that a partial autopsy found substances including cocaine, crack and benzodiazepine, which is a depressant, in Payne’s body when he fell to his death from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 16.

The test also found “pink cocaine,” a recreational drug that typically mixes methamphetamine, ketamine, MDMA and others, per the outlet.

His body will be flown home with his grieving father, Geoff Payne, once the autopsy is finished.

This article originally appeared in Page Six and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Liam Payne friends feared for his life amid drug battle: ‘Ending everyone prayed would not happen’