Liam Payne’s cause of death has been revealed with an autopsy showing that he died of injuries sustained in a fall.
The former One Direction singer died after falling from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, yesterday (October 16), and, per The Guardian, the Argentinian prosecutor’s office said he died of multiple traumas and internal and external bleeding – his head injuries were serious enough to cause death.
Payne, who was thought to be alone at the time of the fall, fell at around 5pm local time, and guests at the hotel told The Guardian they heard banging and shouting for a number of hours before he fell.
A receptionist at the hotel called local emergency services about an “aggressive man who could be under the effects of drugs and alcohol,” per Reuters, while the hotel manager said he heard a loud noise at the back of the hotel, and police found that a man had fallen over the balcony into an internal hotel courtyard upon their arrival.
Substances indicating alcohol and drug consumption were seized from his room, with the police sharing that they found it in “complete disarray”, with clonazepam, a central nervous system depressant, and energy supplements and other over-the-counter drugs.
A whiskey bottle, lighter, and mobile phone were retrieved from the courtyard where Payne’s body was found, according to The Independent.
Fans have been leaving tributes to Payne outside the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. CREDIT: LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images
According to Reuters and GMA News, Buenos Aires newspaper La Nacion was the first to break the news of Payne’s death, before CNN then confirmed it via a statement from from local authorities.
Figures from the worlds of music and entertainment have paid tribute to the singer, who rose to fame as one-fifth of One Direction, one of the best-selling boy bands of all time, in 2010 alongside Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson.
The mother of Styles wrote on Instagram that Payne was “just a boy,” while Malik’s sister said, “I can’t believe it, I honestly have no words for this sad moment… I really can’t believe it.”
I can't believe it, I honestly have no words for this sad moment… I really can't believe it 🖤 pic.twitter.com/RfpRcYxvMX
— Waliyha Malik 💍 (@WaIiyhaAzad) October 16, 2024
Payne’s family have also issued a statement, saying: “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul. We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”
The X Factor, on which One Direction first formed, also shared a message on social media, writing, “He was immensely talented and, as part of One Direction, Liam will leave a lasting legacy on the music industry and fans around the world.”
We are heartbroken by the sad passing of Liam Payne.
He was immensely talented and, as part of One Direction, Liam will leave a lasting legacy on the music industry and fans around the world.
Our thoughts are with his friends, family and all who loved him. pic.twitter.com/wOXUTKPUiR
— The X Factor (@TheXFactor) October 17, 2024
Rebecca Ferguson, who finished in second place on the same season of the show, paid tribute to Payne while also speaking out against the “exploitation and profiteering of young stars.”
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