Liam Payne, the English singer who gained worldwide 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. The 30-year-old suffered multiple traumatic injuries and severe hemorrhaging, according to sources cited by ABC News.
At the time of his death, toxicology reports indicated that Payne had multiple drugs in his system, including crack cocaine, benzodiazepines, and a dangerous substance known as “pink cocaine,” which is often a mix of methamphetamine, ketamine, MDMA, and other narcotics.
Buenos Aires police issued a statement confirming that Payne fell from the third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel, sustaining “extremely serious injuries.” Medics who arrived on the scene pronounced him dead. Autopsy results later confirmed that the singer’s death was caused by multiple internal and external traumas, accompanied by significant hemorrhaging.
Evidence found in Payne’s hotel room suggested that alcohol and drugs had been consumed prior to the fall. Investigators currently believe that the musician was under the influence and alone when the fatal incident occurred. A local official, quoted by the Associated Press, revealed that Payne “had jumped from the balcony of his room.” Forensic experts indicated that the position of his body upon impact suggested he was either semi-conscious or fully unconscious at the time of the fall, as there were no signs of a reflexive attempt to protect himself.
Police were called to the scene shortly after 5 p.m. local time following an emergency 911 call made by the hotel manager. The manager expressed concern over a guest who was reportedly “under the influence of drugs and alcohol” and had damaged objects in the hotel room. The manager further warned authorities that the guest had access to a balcony and feared he might take drastic action that could endanger his life.
Local officials have launched a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding Payne’s death, and the U.K. Foreign Office is in contact with Argentinian authorities to assist with the case. The singer’s family released a heartfelt statement to the British media, saying, “Liam will forever live in our hearts, and we will remember him for his kind, funny, and brave soul.”