Liam Payne, the English singer who gained fame as a member of the boy band One Direction, tragically passed away after falling from the balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
He sustained multiple injuries and hemorrhages, and authorities revealed that various drugs were present in his system at the time of his death
According to sources, Payne had consumed multiple drugs, including crack, cocaine, benzodiazepine, and “pink cocaine,” a substance typically comprising methamphetamine, ketamine, MDMA, and other chemicals.
The Buenos Aires police issued a statement on Wednesday confirming that Payne fell from the third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in the Argentinian capital, suffering “extremely serious injuries.” Medics declared him dead at the scene.
Autopsy results, released on Thursday, stated that Payne died due to multiple traumas and internal and external hemorrhaging.
Authorities also found substances in Payne’s hotel room, suggesting he had consumed alcohol and drugs before the incident. Investigations so far indicate that Payne was under the influence and alone at the time of his fall.
A local official stated that Payne “had jumped from the balcony of his room.” Forensic experts added that his body position suggested he did not try to protect himself, leading them to believe he may have been in a state of partial or total unconsciousness when he fell.
Reports indicate that police were called to the scene shortly after 5 PM local time, following a 911 emergency call from the hotel manager.
The manager expressed concern about a guest “under the influence of drugs and alcohol” who had “damaged some objects in the room.”
The hotel manager was also worried that the guest had access to a balcony and feared they might act in a way that endangered their life.
Local authorities have launched an investigation into Payne’s death, and the U.K. Foreign Office has confirmed that it is in contact with Argentinian officials on the matter.
Payne’s family released a statement on Thursday to British media, saying, “Liam will forever live in our hearts, and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny, and brave soul.”
The four remaining members of One Direction released a joint statement on Instagram on Thursday, expressing their grief: “We are completely devastated by Liam’s passing and will need time to process the loss of our brother, whom we loved dearly.”
How Have Fellow One Direction Bandmates Responded to Payne’s Death?
Payne’s former bandmates shared personal tributes on Instagram starting Thursday. Zayn Malik postponed the U.S. leg of his tour, which was set for this month, citing “the heartbreaking loss this week” and announced that the shows would be rescheduled for January.
He reflected on his relationship with Payne, acknowledging that while they “butted heads,” he feels like he “lost a brother.”
Niall Horan, who saw Payne at his concert just two weeks before his death, described him as “the brightest in every room” and said he was grateful to have seen him recently.
Louis Tomlinson referred to Payne as the “most vital member of One Direction,” while Harry Styles called the time they spent together “among the most cherished years of my life.”
