Liam Payne: Ex-One Direction Star Dies After Fall from Buenos Aires Hotel Room

Liam Payne, the former One Direction star, died on Wednesday in Buenos Aires, Argentina, after falling from the third floor of a hotel, local officials said. Payne, who was 31 at the time of his demise, leaves behind a seven-year-old son, Bear.

In a statement, Buenos Aires police said he fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in the trendy Palermo neighborhood in Argentina’s capital. Reports say the fall left him with ‘severe injuries, with medics confirming his death on the spot.

Buenos Aires police said they discovered Payne’s body after an emergency crew responded to a call on Wednesday. On Thursday, the police inspected the area where Payne fell and found items, including a phone and alcohol. Medication was also found in his room.

Sources of the situation say Liam Payne and his girlfriend Kate Cassidy arrived in Argentina on September 30. The two posted social media posts together, showing them having fun while on vacation. However, reports indicate Kate Cassidy left Argentina on the 14th, leaving behind Liam, who went on to check into the CasaSur Palermo Hotel.

• More Stories: Joy – The True Story of the World’s First Test Tube Baby

Payne’s rise to stardom traces back to his participation in the chart-topping British boyband One Direction, which generated a following of swooning fans. The massively popular boyband was created on the British version of the X Factor in 2010.

Other group members include Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, and Niall Horan. The boyband announced an ‘indefinite hiatus’ in 2016. One Direction enjoyed global success with hits such as Story of My Life and What Makes Your Beautiful. Payne also enjoyed some solo success after the boyband went into hiatus.

As per local police reports, officers at the scene were initially responding to reports ‘of an aggressive man who may have been under the effects of drugs and alcohol.’ Upon arrival at the hotel, officials were told a loud sound had been heard in an interior courtyard. It was then that they discovered a body there before launching investigations into the incident.

Payne’s tragic death leaves fans and the music industry at large reeling, with celebrity tributes pouring in from all corners of the planet. In an Instagram post, Harry Styles’ mom, Anne Twist, posted an image of a broken heart emoji, captioned “Just a boy.”