Liam Payne died from multiple injuries and internal and external bleeding after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina's prosecutors said. An autopsy found that the pop star's head injuries were sufficient to cause death.
An ongoing investigation, which includes the interview of five witnesses to try to reconstruct the last moments of the 31-year-old musician, indicates that he was alone at the time of the fall. Alcohol and drug paraphernalia were seized from Payne's hotel room.
The former One Direction member died on Wednesday at 5 pm local time. Guests at the Casa Sur hotel told The Guardian they heard banging and screaming for hours before Payne fell.
“I thought they were doing construction, there was a lot of space, the doors were stuck, most of the day. It was loud and strange,” Doug Jones said. “Then I heard sirens and thought maybe there was a fire somewhere. Then I heard a very loud scream.
According to Reuters, a hotel receptionist called emergency services. The hotel manager said he heard a loud noise at the back of the hotel and when police arrived they found a man slumped on the balcony of his room.
Photographs allegedly showing Payne's room in disarray are believed to have been published in local news and online. The takeover by hotel staff sparked a backlash over journalistic ethics.
Payne's family said in a statement that they were “heartbroken” by his death. “Liam will forever live in our hearts and we will remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul. We support each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space during this difficult time.
One Direction were created on The X Factor in 2010. Presenter Dermot O'Leary paid tribute to Payne, describing him as “a joy” who “had time for everyone, [was] “He was polite, grateful and always humble.”
Ronnie Wood, who performed with the band when they returned as a guest on the show in 2014, said it was “a pleasure to work with”, while pop star Charlie Puth, who co-wrote Payne's 2017 single Bedroom Floor, criticized him. . . “The great artist.”
Payne's former One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan have yet to comment on his death. Payne had a son, Bear, in 2017, Cheryl Tweedy, who did not comment.
Rebecca Ferguson came second on the seventh series of The X Factor, and One Direction came third. Houston, who has been outspoken about abuse in the music industry, remembers meeting Payne in a taxi from the station to the show.
“I couldn't help but think of that little boy with hope and a bright future,” he tweeted.
“I have been speaking for years about the exploitation and speculation of young stars and their consequences; Many of us are still living with the aftermath and PTSD. Many of us today are devastated and reflecting because he has finally become its first victim.
