Liam Payne: Final moments of former One Direction star before tragic balcony death at Casa Sur hotel revealed
WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT
Authorities in Argentina have released new details that paint a distressing picture of singer Liam Payne’s final moments before he died falling from a balcony in Buenos Aires.
The former One Direction star died on Thursday morning, after plunging 14 metres from a balcony at the Casa Sur hotel.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Disturbingly, police were already at the hotel when the tragic event occurred.
Here is what we know.
What led to Liam Payne’s tragic death
Payne had been in Argentina for fellow One Direction star Niall Horan’s concert on October 2.
Payne attended the event with his girlfriend, actress Kate Cassidy who he has dated since October 2022.
His appearance at the event should have sent One Direction fans into a frenzy of excitement. However, footage of Payne displaying “erratic” behaviour at the concert only caused concern when it was posted on Snapchat.
“Tapping his foot missing the beat says all I need to know,” one person wrote.
“Eee Liam does not look ok he looks erratic and off the rails,” another said.
Horan left for Brazil to continue his tour as Payne stayed in Argentina with Cassidy.
The two are understood to have stayed in multiple locations across Argentina, including a large private property in an undisclosed location.
Whilst there, the Daily Mail reported that Payne’s on-again-off-again former partner Maya Henry had sent a cease and desist letter to the former One Direction singer after he allegedly tried to contact her multiple times.
Shortly after, Cassidy is understood to have travelled back to the US.
The Nightly does not suggest the incidents are linked.
At some point, the timing is unclear, Payne checked into the Casa Sur hotel in Buenos Aires.
On Thursday morning, around 5pm local time, Payne was seen acting erratically at the hotel lobby.
TMZ reported that witnesses saw Payne smashing a laptop before he was moved to his hotel room.
The hotel manager called local police to report an “aggressive man” who “may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol”, according to local media outlet La Nacion.
Police quickly arrived at the hotel whilst Payne was still alive.
How Liam Payne died
Whilst at the hotel, officers heard a loud thud.
Security Ministry of Buenos Aires municipality spokesperson Pablo Policicchio told The Associated Press that Payne “had thrown himself from the balcony of his room”.
Officers located Payne’s body in the hotel courtyard.
A 911 call was made at 5.04pm local time reporting Payne’s body in the courtyard.
Alberto Crescenti, head of the State Emergency Medical System (SAME) said: “At 5.11pm, a SAME team arrived and confirmed the man’s death,”
He said Payne “had injuries incompatible with life as a result of his fall”.
“There was no possibility of resuscitation,” he added.
Authorities set up a red tent over the body, locking down the scene, as the world learnt of Payne’s tragic death.
After Payne’s tragic death, his Snapchat account posted a video of the singer talking about his trip through Argentina, riding horses, playing polo, and looking forward to returning home to see his dog.
“It’s a lovely day here in Argentina,” he said in the video.
The video was quickly deleted. It is understood Payne’s social media channels were managed by someone else.
Fans swarmed the street outside the Casa Sur hotel, lighting candles and leaving pictures and flowers for Payne.
Payne’s body was taken from the hotel in an ambulance as fans applauded the singer on the street.
One Direction members Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson are yet to publicly comment on Payne’s death.
Payne is survived by his seven-year-old son, Bear, who he shared with his former girlfriend, UK singer Cheryl Cole.
