One Direction superstar Liam Payne falls to death at Argentina hotel, aged 31

New details are emerging about Liam Payne’s final moments before the former One Direction member fell to his death at a hotel in Argentina.

British singer Liam Payne, former member of the group One Direction, has died aged 31 after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Argentina.

Several witnesses at the hotel where Payne was staying said he fell from his room on the third floor of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel. It is not known if it was intentional or accidental.

According to Buenos Aires Times, Payne was staying in room 10 and his body was found in the hotel’s internal courtyard, with the fall to the ground from the balcony around 13 or 14 metres.

Police in Buenos Aires said they initially responded to a call “of an aggressive man who may have been under the effects of drugs and alcohol”. Officials heard a loud sound in the courtyard before discovering his body just after 5pm local time.

Police take security measures at the hotel where Liam Payne died. Picture: Getty Images

According to TMZ, the singer “had been acting erratic in the hotel lobby and smashed his laptop’ before he ‘had to be carried back to his room”.

Police received a call from a hotel staff member requesting help with an intoxicated guest, according to audio related to the case obtained from the Buenos Aires security ministry.

“When he is conscious he is destroying the entire room and we need you to send someone,” the worker said.

TMZ also obtained a photo showing the singer’s body on a wooden deck at the hotel with tables and chairs nearby.

Payne had been in Argentina earlier this month for a Niall Horan concert on October 2, with the One Direction bandmates reuniting at the show.

The view from the balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel where Payne plunged to his death.

Head of the state emergency medical system Alberto Crescenti told Argentina’s Todo Noticias TV channel that Payne had fallen into an internal courtyard at the hotel.

He said “there was no possibility” for emergency personnel to save Payne’s life, stating he had “very serious injuries”.

Police at the lobby of Casa Sur Hotel where Liam Payne died. Picture: Getty Images

Fans light a candle next to the hotel where Liam Payne died in Buenos Aires. Picture: AFP

“A few minutes later [an] emergency team arrived and confirmed the death of this man who we later learned was from a musical group,” he said.

“He had injuries incompatible with life as a result of his fall. There was no way to do anything.”

Mr Crescenti said authorities were investigating the circumstances of Payne’s death and conducting an autopsy.

Forensic workers take the body of British singer Liam Payne on a fire van from the hotel where he died. Picture: AFP

“He had very serious injuries that caused his death, such as a fracture at the base of the skull,” said the doctor, who said investigators and experts would now look into the circumstances of the tragedy,” he said.

In a one-line statement, the UK Foreign Office said: “We are in contact with the local authorities regarding reports of the death of a British man in Argentina.”

Forensic workers and police officers work at the hotel where British singer Liam Payne died in Buenos Aires. Picture: AFP

FOLLOW UPDATES BELOW:

LAST PICS OF PAYNE REVEALED

While it is understood that Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy, 25, had left Argentina two days before, less than an hour before his death, Payne shared several posts on Snapchat.

Some of the snaps included photos of his food, his plans to play polo and filming Cassidy as they ate breakfast, revealing they had been staying at their friend’s home. The video could have been recorded before Cassidy left and uploaded later.

“This is the breakfast table, just enjoying breakfast and coffee even though it’s 1pm,” Payne said as he addressed the camera.

Cassidy is heard in the background joking that the pair are “losers” for laying in so late.

“Today, we ride. I think I’m going to be playing polo again, which is going to put me out of action for about six weeks,” Payne said.

Liam Payne in what is believed to be his last social media post before falling to his death. Picture X

“Honestly, polo, out of everything I’ve ever done sports-wise, not that I’m taking up polo professionally, by the way, I’m just like, I had a go for some fun.

“It’s so hard to do, number one. Number two, my back and my neck from swinging that hammer around, or mallet, I think it’s called, if you’re in the know, it’s polo language.”

One of the last social media posts made by Liam Payne, hours before his death. Picture: Snapchat

Payne had uploaded a series of photos of his food and detailed his plans to play polo before his death.Picture Snapchat

Later on, he films himself saying: “I look like the Joker, my hair’s a bit cray-cray.”

Cassidy had also shared one of the final photos of the star before his death alongside a heartfelt message.

The model took a snap of the One Direction star as they rode horses together in the countryside.

Liam Payne's girlfriend Kate Cassidy shared one of the final photos of the star before his death alongside a personal message. Picture Snapchat

Captioning the shot, she wrote: “I am very grateful for the simple things in life.”

Payne can be seen wearing casual clothes and was mounted on a horse in the TikTok picture.

STARS PAY TRIBUTE TO SINGER

In a post on X, Paris Hilton wrote: “So upsetting to hear the news of @LiamPayne passing. Sending love and condolences to his family & loved ones. RIP my friend.”

So upsetting to hear the news of @LiamPayne passing😢 Sending love and condolences to his family & loved ones. 🙏 RIP my friend🥺

— Paris Hilton (@ParisHilton) October 16, 2024

Fellow X Factor contestants and Irish singer duo Jedward also paid tribute. They wrote: “RIP Liam Payne. Condolences to friends and family.”

In another tweet, they added: “Sending strength to Cheryl and his son Bear. And all the One direction Family. RIP Liam Payne.”

German DJ Anton Zaslavski, otherwise known as Zedd, has taken to X with a devastated statement.

Fans of British singer Liam Payne, former member of the group One Direction, wait near the hotel where he died in Buenos Aires. Picture:AFP

The producer, who worked with Liam on his 2017 hit Get Low, wrote: “RIP Liam… I can’t believe this is real…absolutely heartbreaking…”

MTV released a statement saying: “We’re deeply saddened to learn of Liam Payne’s tragic passing today. During this difficult time, our hearts remain with his family, loved one, and fans.”

One Direction while in Sydney. Band members back L-R Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne and front L-R Zayn Malik and Harry Styles.

The singer’s last photo on Instagram was with his One Direction bandmates in May.
In what turned out to be his final post, the singer paid tribute to American documentary filmmaker, writer and TV producer Morgan Spurlock.
Payne shared a photo of himself alongside Spurlock, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik.

Payne announced he was working on a solo album that same year, following in the footsteps of other band members.

“Liam James Payne, composer and guitarist, former member of the band One Direction, died today after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Palermo,” a police statement said.

Boy band sensation One Direction emerged in 2010 when then-teenagers Payne, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik appeared on British television contest “The X Factor.”
In 2016, the group announced it was going on an indefinite hiatus, but not splitting up.

Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne during their One Direction days. Picture: Getty Images for iHeartMedia

Fans have already flooded the post with tributes following the 31-year-old’s shock death.

Earlier this week, Payne’s ex-fiance Maya Henry alleged he had left her after asking her to get an abortion.

Her lawyers had been trying to send him a cease-and-desist letter to stop contacting her.

She has since broken her silence, following the death.

“She is understandably in shock,” Henry’s representative told Daily Mail.

Liam Payne with his then fiance Maya Henry. Picture: Getty

Speaking on TikTok , Henry had previously claimed: “Ever since we broke up he will blow up my phone.

“It’s always from different phone numbers too so I never know where it is going to come from.

“He will create new icloud accounts to iMessage me. It’s always a damn new iCloud account. Each time I see a new one pop up on my phone I’m like ‘oh here we go again’.

“It’s disturbing that this man is still doing these things to me.

“I am disgusted by this diabolical behaviour. This is beyond disgusting and flabbergasting to say the least.”

British singer Liam Payne had previously opened up about his battle with drugs and suicidal thoughts.

PAYNE’S PREVIOUS MENTAL HEALTH BATTLE

Payne had been open in the past about his battles with drugs.

In 2021, he blamed a “pills and booze phase” for bloating his face to “ten times the size”, while also revealing he used to guzzle the contents of his mini bar when band chiefs checked the lads into hotels to keep fans at bay.

In 2019, Payne revealed he suffered suicidal thoughts as he struggled with his fame he revealed on Ant Middleton And Liam Payne: Straight Talking.

“For some certain circumstances I’m quite lucky to be here still,” he said.

“There are times when that level of loneliness and people getting into you every day, it’s like, ‘When will this end?’ That’s almost nearly killed me a couple of times.”

He survived by his son Bear, 7, his parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, and his two older sisters, Ruth and Nicola.

Liam Payne taking a selfie with fans at the 28th Annual ARIA Awards 2014 at the Star in Sydney. Picture: Getty Images

One Direction brought three concert tours to Australia in 2012, 2013 and 2015.

For the Up All Night concerts in 2012 they just played single nights in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, but their 2013 Take Me Hometour was massive, including stops in Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Brisbane and seven nights at Melbourne’s Rod Laver arena.

And they kicked off their On the Road world tour in February 2015 with dates in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

One Direction “fandemonium” was on full display when One Direction appeared on Sunrise in 2012.
The Daily Telegraph reported that fans required first aid after passing out near Seven’s Martin Place studios and chaos on the surrounding streets, with thousands of diehard supporters chasing after the band’s vans as they left the building.

Originally published as One Direction superstar Liam Payne falls to death at Argentina hotel, aged 31