The sister of late One Direction star Liam Payne has shared a deeply personal and permanent tribute to her brother, revealing a poignant tattoo that marks the exact length of his life.
A Permanent Tribute in Ink
Ruth Gibbins posted a reflective photo montage on her Instagram to look back on the year 2025. Among the images was a clear shot of a new tattoo on her arm, bearing the inscription "11,372 days". This number is believed to represent the total days Liam lived before his tragic death.
The singer died on 16 October 2024, aged 31, following a fall from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A subsequent toxicology report found traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his system at the time.
Ruth's collection of photos also featured other meaningful tattoos. One, placed behind her right ear, showed three hearts symbolising herself, Liam, and their sister Nicola Payne. Another picture in the series depicted a robin on a fence, a bird often associated with visits from departed loved ones. She captioned the entire post simply: "2025."
Grieving a 'Thousand Tiny Losses'
Ruth has spoken openly about the ongoing pain of losing her brother. Near the end of December 2025, she expressed profound sadness upon learning that a section of Liam's old school, St Peter's Collegiate Academy in Wolverhampton, was scheduled for demolition.
Sharing her feelings on Instagram Stories, she wrote: "Hearing part of our senior school is being knocked down... feels like all of him is being removed from the planet, all the places we've been are changing and he's not here to change with them." She poignantly described the experience as "A thousand tiny losses every single day."
Love That Endures: A Partner's Promise
Liam's girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, 26, also shared an emotional tribute that same month. In a tearful TikTok video, Kate, who was in a relationship with Liam for two years before his passing, made a powerful statement about her enduring love.
"Whoever I end up with in my future will have to accept the fact that I will always love Liam," she stated. "I will always talk about Liam. I will always laugh about Liam, I will always cry about Liam."
She emphasised that Liam was not just a celebrity to her, but her boyfriend and best friend. "He was somebody I really thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with," Kate confessed, while acknowledging she would one day need to move on.
Quoting a well-known sentiment about grief, she added: "When a person dies, they die twice, once when they actually die and the second time when you stop speaking about them. I'm not going to have Liam die twice on me. I will love him forever."
These heartfelt disclosures from Ruth Gibbins and Kate Cassidy offer a glimpse into the personal and lasting impact of Liam Payne's death, demonstrating how his family and loved ones continue to honour his memory in their own unique ways.
