What was Liam Payne’s cause of death?

The official reason for One Direction star Liam Payne’s death has been revealed by authorities as police in Argentina hunt a drug dealer.

Liam Payne died from multiple injuries sustained in his fall that led to “internal and external haemorrhaging,” preliminary autopsy results have shown.

Two forensic pathologists reached the conclusions during a post-mortem on Thursday in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

According to CNN, who viewed the report, the prosecutor’s office handling the case is preparing to make an official statement with more details at a later time.

Further tests are now taking place to see if the singer had consumed drugs and alcohol which could have played a contributing factor in the star’s tragic death. A toxicology report is still pending.

The autopsy took place at the Supreme Court morgue close to the Hotel CasaSur Palermo, the boutique hotel where the 31-year-old Brit plunged from a third-floor balcony yesterday around 5pm local time.

Liam Payne died age 31. Picture: Getty Images

A recent post on Instagram. Picture: Liam Payne/Instagram

Liam’s body was taken last night to the morgue, where post-mortems following deaths in the city centre traditionally take place.

Argentinian newspaper The Daily Clarin said the results showed his death was caused by “multiple trauma “that led to “internal and external bleeding”.

It comes afterBuenos Aires emergency services chief Alberto Crescenti told The Sun that Liam was beyond hope when teams reached the scene.

Mr Crescenti said: “Our role was to head there quickly, give medical attention, and try to resuscitate him, but his injuries were incompatible with life”.

“Based on what the team saw, there was apparently a cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death.”

Emergency services confirmed the 31-year-old pop star’s identity by checking his passport.

Mr Crescenti said Liam had fallen into the hotel’s internal patio but declined to comment on reports he may have been drunk or on drugs.

Liam suffered a cracked skull after falling from a balcony is Argentina. (Photo by CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP)

He stressed officials were still awaiting autopsy findings and urged anyone rushing to Judgement “to not get ahead of ourselves”.

Local media in Argentina has reported that police will look for a drug dealer after photos from inside Liam’s hotel room appear to show white powder and burnt aluminium foil.

The pictures, published by the Daily Clarin, showed a smashed TV screen and traces of powder on a desk.

The report suggested that the substance was cocaine but official tests are yet to be carried out.

The images also showed matches and the remains of a burnt candle.

Hotel staff told police that Liam had checked in alone at the exclusive CasaSur Hotel in the Argentinian capital’s trendy Palermo suburb on October 10.

He was understood to be in the city to meet former 1D bandmate Niall Horan who performed at the Movistar Arena.

Liam’s body was removed from the hotel at 8.38pm local time more than three hours after his tragic fall. It’s unknown if the fall was intentional or accidental.

The star had been acting erratically before his death and reportedly smashed a laptop before being carried back to his room.

Buenos Aires police told CNN that personnel from the 14B Police Station attended after a 911 call about an “aggressive man who was possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol”.

Full transcript of hotel worker’s 911 call

Call handler: 911 where’s your emergency?

Caller: Hello

911 what’s your emergency?

Hello, good afternoon, look I’m calling you from the hotel CasaSur Palermo, which is located in Costa Rica [St] 6032

6032? Is that between Cramer [St] and …

Yes, that’s correct it’s between Arevalo [Street] and Dorrego [Street]. So, we have a guest who is high on drugs and who is trashing the room. Erm, so we need someone to come

Understood, so you’re telling me is being aggressive? Sir, can you please repeat the name of the hotel? Sir?

The line cuts and a second call is made

Call handler: 911 where’s your emergency?

Caller: Hello, good day, I just called but got cut off. I’m calling from the hotel CasaSur Palermo, Costa Rica [St] 6032

What’s happening at that location, sir?

Well, we’ve got a guest who has had too many drugs and alcohol and, well, when he is conscious he is trashing the entire room and we need you to send someone, please

He is under the effect of alcohol and drugs, is he, sir?

Yes, correct

You said Costa Rica St at which location?

Costa Rica 6032

That’s between Arevalo and Cramer?

Yes

You said it’s a hotel? What’s it called?

CasaSur Palermo, and we need you to send someone urgently because, well, I don’t know whether his life, may be in danger, the guest’s life. He is in a room with a balcony and well, we’re a little afraid that he …

Since when has he been there or is this a long-stay hotel?

He’s been here for two or three days.

Understood, you wouldn’t know any other details because you can’t get in, right?

No

We’ll notify the SAME (medical emergency) staff as well, yes?

Yes, what I’m asking is for someone to come urgently because, well …

We’ve notified SAME. Any other details you can provide. Who are you, are you in charge?

I am in the chief receptionist.

In charge at the location?

Yes, yes.

We’ve now reported this. What’s your name, sir?

Esteban.

We’ve reported it.

OK

Thanks for calling, you can free up the line now.

Are you sending the police as well or not?

The police and the local – wait give me a second – the local authorities and the SAME.

No, no, just the SAME. Just the SAME.

Understood, don’t worry, we’ve reported it.

Yes, perfect, many thanks.

You told me that [the guest] is under the influence of drugs and alcohol and the SAME doesn’t go in alone.

The SAME doesn’t go in alone? OK, OK.

No, it’s reported [to the police] regardless. If the police arrives you explain [what’s going on] and if they need the SAME, they call them.

Good, OK. Perfect.

We’ve made the report, have a good day, sir.

Good, thanks, same to you.

The last photos he posted before his death.

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

Forensic workers arrive at the hotel where Liam Payne died after falling from the third floor of a hotel. Picture: AFP

He died at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel. Picture: AFP

Fans wait near the hotel where he died in Buenos Aires. Picture: AFP

Liam had struggled with alcohol and prescription drug addictions and revealed he had “severe” suicidal thoughts.

In recent years he had battled personal issues and his ex-fiancee Maya Henry recently claimed he would often ruminate on death.

However Liam had appeared in high spirits prior to his death as he spent quality time with his model girlfriend Kate Cassidy.

The former One Direction star was in Buenos Aires for the concert of ex-bandmate Niall Horan.

Kate had joined him but left earlier this week.

Liam joined One Direction when it was formed in 2010 after competing in the X Factor show.

Other group members included Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson.

One of Liam’s family members said on Thursday that they were all “devastated” at the news.

His parents Geoff and Karen Payne were seen leaving their Wolverhampton home “in a hurry” on Wednesday night.

– With The Sun

Originally published as What was Liam Payne’s cause of death?