Liam Payne, former One Direction star, dies at hotel in Argentina - what we know so far
Prosecutors and police have released further information about the circumstances surrounding the death of the 31-year-old singer. Details of an emergency call made by staff at the hotel have also been made public.
Thursday 17 October 2024 20:37, UK
Former One Direction star Liam Payne has died at the age of 31.
Here's what we know about his death...
How did he die?
Payne died after falling from a balcony on the third floor of a hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at 5.07pm on Wednesday, according to officials in the country.
Prosecutors said the evidence suggested he was alone and "going through some type of outbreak as a result of substance abuse" when he fell.
A post-mortem found he died from multiple trauma injuries and bleeding. Tests are also being carried out to determine if he had drugs or alcohol in his system.
Police said a whiskey bottle, lighter and mobile phone were found in the internal hotel courtyard where Payne's body was found.
The forensic doctors who carried out the post-mortem said Payne suffered a total of 25 injuries "compatible with those caused by a fall from a height".
The injuries to his head alone were enough to cause his death, they added.
There were no signs of a struggle or "defensive injuries" on his body, or anything else to suggest another person was directly involved, the post-mortem report concluded.
The medical experts also said it appeared Payne did not adopt a "reflex posture" to protect himself as he fell, suggesting he may have been semi or completely unconscious just before he died.
What were the circumstances of his death?
The singer had been staying at the CasaSur Hotel, in the city's Palermo neighbourhood, for several days.
In a statement, Argentinian prosecutors said two women had been with Payne in his room on Wednesday, but the pair left hours before he fell.
Minutes before his death, police received a 911 emergency call from the hotel over concerns about the behaviour of a guest – thought to be Payne.
The hotel's desk manager told the 911 operator there was "a guest drunk with drugs and alcohol" who was "breaking everything in the room".
The manager said they needed emergency services to come urgently "because I don't know if the guest's life is in danger because he is in a room with balcony, and we are afraid he could do something that threatens life".
A statement from the local ambulance service said they arrived at the hotel within six minutes of receiving the emergency call, where they found a person lying on a patio at the hotel.
They said the injuries he suffered proved to be fatal and there was no possibility of resuscitating him.
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Buenos Aires police said they searched Payne's hotel room afterwards and found what appeared to be drugs and alcohol, as well as medicines like clonazepam.
Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine used to control epilepsy, involuntary muscle spasms or panic disorders.
Tests are being carried out to determine what some of the substances are.
Prosecutors said officers also found "several objects and furniture" that had been damaged.
Fans light hold 'impromptu memorial' as body moved to morgue
Many fans of Payne arrived outside the hotel soon after the incident and began lighting candles as part of an "impromptu memorial", Argentinian journalist Natalio Cosoy told Sky News.
"They started lighting candles around the tree, right in front of the entrance to the hotel," he said.
"Dozens of fans have been gathering here earlier than now, when the body of Liam was still here, expecting and waiting for the moment that the body was going to be taken to the coroner's office.
"That happened some time ago, but they still remained here.
"They've also been singing the songs of the band in remembrance, some of them crying and very sad to hear this news."
Payne's social media posts
Videos were posted on Snapchat from the singer's account in the last few hours before his death. In one video he said it was a "lovely day here in Argentina".
"Just enjoying coffee and breakfast, even though it's like 1pm," he said. "Literally sleep in every day until like 12. We're such losers."
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The star spoke about "going to ride some horses" and said: "Think I'm going to play polo again which is going to put me out of action for about six weeks."
"It's going to be a nice day," he added.
However, the videos appeared to have been filmed days beforehand, as they featured Payne's girlfriend Kate Cassidy, who uploaded videos of her return to Florida on social media earlier in the week.
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Why was Payne in Argentina?
The singer had travelled to Buenos Aires to attend the concert of his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan.
He was seen dancing at his show two weeks ago at the Movistar Arena alongside Ms Cassidy.
What is happening now?
Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the singer's death while stars have been paying tribute to him.
Prosecutors said five witness statements have been taken so far, including from three members of staff at the hotel and from the two women who were with Payne a few hours before he died.
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