A chilling final photo of league player Liam Hampson, taken mere hours before his death in a Spanish nightclub, has emerged.
Queensland rugby league player Hampson, 24, had not been seen for 30 hours after disappearing while partying with a group of NRL players in Barcelona on on Tuesday night.
Friends reportedly lost contact with the Redcliffe Dolphins player at around 5.30am, prompting public pleas for help from Gold Coast Titans player AJ Brimson as well as Brisbane Broncos duo Jordan Riki and Jesse Arthars.
In a photo taken by a photographer at nightclub Sala Apolo, Hampson is seen smiling in the background.
Riki is in the foreground of the image giving a woman a kiss on the cheek.
Hampson had been enjoying an off-season holiday around Europe with a group of friends including NRL stars Brimson, Riki and Arthars.
Riki started a GoFundMe campaign with the aim of raising $50,000 to assist in bringing Hampson’s body back to Australia.
“On behalf of Liam’s family and friends we would like to support his beautiful family in helping getting Liam home,” Riki wrote.
“Also supporting his family through this difficult time. As we all know Liam was a beautiful soul who brought people together with his love, wisdom and jokes.
“Liam was an outstanding talent on and off the football field if it was helping his teammates win a nail biting game or educating kids and many others on life and his wisdom. We love Liam and any donation would go a long way.”
Within four hours, the campaign had raised around $60,000 as members of the rugby league community, including Kalyn Ponga, Taane Milne, Justin Holbrook, Alex Glenn, Reece Walsh, Anthony Don, Paul Sironen and Charlotte Caslick, rallied.
“Hey guys bit of a long shot but hoping someone out there could have any information about Liam who has now been missing for 30 hours in Barcelona,” Brimson wrote on Instagram after the group lost contact with Hampson.
“Please do not message me unless you have any help or info. We are busy trying to message family members etc. Thanks!!”
But on Thursday morning (AEDT), Hampson’s sister Tiarna shared a heartbreaking Instagram post confirming she had received the “saddest news possible”.
“We are devastated to find out Liam had an accident and did not survive,” Tiarna wrote.
“We are so heartbroken. Liam was the best brother I ever could of asked for and made me a better person.
“We cannot express our grief.
“We cannot thank the boys he was travelling with enough for assisting with his search and made sure his last days were the best of his life. Going to miss you so much, Liam.”
Hampson’s father Brett said the whole family was “devastated” and “heartbroken” by the news.
“Waking up to the news no one wants to hear, we are devastated to find out that Liam had an accident and sadly has not survived,” Brett wrote.
“We are heartbroken to say the least. Liam had a heart of gold and was a much loved son, brother, grandson, uncle and friend. Words can not express our grief.
“We can not thank his mates enough for being there with Liam having the time of his life and assisting in the search for our boy. Our thought are with them.
“We are asking the media to respect our privacy as we work through this time.”
Barcelona police also confirmed to 7NEWS a body believed to be Hampson had been found.
“This morning, nightclub staff where Liam was seen for the last time, found a body on the floor in an area of the nightclub, Sala Apolo,” they said.
Police confirmed the death was being treated as an accident.
According to Spanish reports, Hampson’s body was found by workers of the Sala Apolo nightclub in Barcelona, where he had spent the night with friends on October 18.
Barcelona police attended the venue before making the appropriate checks and identifying the body.
Riki issued a tribute to Hampson, sharing three heartbreaking Instagram stories.
“I love you my brother you beautiful soul I’m so sorry,” he wrote.
“Can’t put into words how I’m feeling I love you bro I’m so sorry.”
Riki also thanked those who had responded to pleas for information to help the missing persons effort.
“Please know I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has helped to find our boy words can’t express how grateful I am for you guys,” he said.
“Everyone who reached out and posted on your socials and asked for your family/friends to help thank you so much … RIP my beautiful brother.”
Riki also shared a link to a GoFundMe page and said any donations would help Hampson’s family bring his body home to Australia.
“On behalf of Liam’s family and friends we would like to support his beautiful family in helping getting Liam home. Also supporting his family through this difficult time,” Riki said.
“As we all know Liam was a beautiful soul who brought people together with his love, wisdom and jokes.
“Liam was an outstanding talent on and off the football field if it was helping his teammates win a nail biting game or educating kids and many others on life and his wisdom. We love Liam and any donation would go a long way.”
Spanish news publication El Caso reports police believe Hampson may have died because of an accidental fall.
Both the Australian consulate and Hampson’s family have been contacted by Spanish authorities.
Sala Apolo is described as one of the oldest dance halls in Europe and hosts events on every night of the week.
Hampson had been enjoying an off-season holiday around Europe with a group of friends including NRL stars Brimson, Riki and Arthurs.
Images from their Instagram accounts show the group holidaying through Munich, Amsterdam, Switzerland, Positano and Paris before they travelled to Barcelona.
The group had presumably been coming to the end of their European trip, given pre-season training for NRL clubs who missed the top eight this year is due to begin in just a couple of weeks.
Hampson attended Keebra Park State High School on the Gold Coast with Brimson before the pair played their junior rugby league together at the Tweed Seagulls.
While Brimson moved on to the Titans, Hampson moved to the Redcliffe Dolphins in Queensland’s domestic rugby league competition where he played as a hooker.
He had played in 37 games for Redcliffe, scoring nine tries.
However Hampson was not a member of the club’s top tier list for their inaugural season in the NRL in 2023.
News Corp reports that a handful of Australian players in England for the Rugby League World Cup knew Hampson, including Brisbane forward Patrick Carrigan.
Team officials confirmed to News Corp that Hampson was known to players who are involved with the World Cup campaign.
