Liam Payne reportedly found dead aged 31

The former One Direction band member is father to a seven-year-old son, Bear.

Liam Payne, the former singer of One Direction, has reportedly been found dead outside a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The 31-year-old musician from the UK is believed to have fallen from the fourth floor of a hotel at approximately 5 p.m. local time, as reported by local news outlets.

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Image: Getty

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Liam Payne's tragic cause of death revealed

News outlet La Nacion was the first to report the news, saying that police went to the area after a call from the hotel manager to 911.

According to the publication, "it was a fall of around thirteen or fourteen meters" and there was no possibility of resuscitation.

Payne has a seven-year-old son named Bear, whom he shares with singer Cheryl Cole.

He shot to fame in 2008 after auditioning as a solo performer on the UK reality show The X Factor. Eventually, he was matched with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik to create One Direction, which later emerged as one of the most successful boy bands in history.

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Tributes flow in

Messages of tribute for the star have started to surface online, with celebrities like Paris Hilton and Charlie Puth expressing their shock at the news.

Puth took to his Instagram Stories where he remembered Payne for being 'so kind' to him.

"I am in shock right now," he wrote. "Liam was always so kind to me. He was one of the first major artists I got to work with. I can not believe he is gone."

Meanwhile, Paris Hilton said: "So upsetting to hear the news of (Liam Payne) passing. Sending love and condolences to his family & loved ones. RIP my friend."

Other fans took to Payne's Instagram account to share their condolences.

"Rest in peace Liam, you were my childhood," wrote one.

"I’m crying I love u," said a second.

"This can’t be real," added a third, echoing the thoughts of many.

Image: Instagram

The doting dad to son Bear

At the age of 23, the singer welcomed his son, Bear, with Cheryl Cole in March 2017 and shared the joyous news on Instagram.

He began a relationship with Cole in 2016, but they announced their breakup in July 2018.

In interviews, the dad often spoke fondly of his son and what it was like to become a young dad.

In March, Payne posted a rare photo of his son gazing at a billboard featuring his photo.

"I want to be on a billboard one day daddy 🐻 ❤️," he wrote in the caption.

Payne has been dating Kate Cassidy since October 2022 and was in a relationship with her at the time of his death.

Originally published as Liam Payne reportedly found dead aged 31