Kate Cassidy left Liam Payne in Argentina in order to take care of their dog

Kate, 25 - who co-owned a rescue dog, called Nala, with Liam - told The Sun newspaper: "I had a responsibility, we had a responsibility. We had our dog and obviously I never, ever thought this event would occur.

"It was a tragic accident and no, I never did think (he might die young). But, you know, we did have our own separate lives - this wasn't the first time we have travelled separately.

"I just never thought this would have happened, that it would turn out the way it did."

Kate is still coming to terms with the tragedy, revealing that she still thinks about Liam "every second of every day".

She said: "It still doesn't feel fully real for me that he's not here. I'm trying to be the best I can be, but I feel like my life has changed so much. I think about Liam every second of every day."

Kate and Liam started dating in 2022, and the influencer is convinced that they were "soulmates".

Recalling their final moments together, she shared: "We were in such a great place, just full of love; he was so happy and positive. And I just can't even believe the way things truly ended.

"It's genuinely insane to me how things can just be taken away from you so quickly in life, you never truly know what tomorrow will bring, you never know."