Liam Payne gained global fame after his appearance on The X Factor and as a member of One Direction with Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan.
After the band’s hiatus, Payne pursued a solo career, signing with Republic Records and debuting his first single, ‘Strip That Down,’ in 2017.
Last, it was confirmed that Payne had passed away, and now, his preliminary autopsy has offered fans a cause of death.
News of Payne’s passing sparked an outpouring of tributes to the beloved singer.
One fan expressed their sorrow, writing: “It’s devastating to hear about Liam Payne’s passing. My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. Rest in peace.”
Another shared: “RIP Liam Payne. My thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family during this difficult time.”
The shock of his loss was palpable, with one person commenting: “I’m heartbroken over the news of Liam Payne’s sudden passing. He was an incredibly talented artist, taken from us far too soon. His music will be deeply missed.”
His family released a statement through his spokeswoman: “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts, and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny, and brave soul.” They asked for privacy during this difficult time.
Payne’s former One Direction bandmates released a joint statement expressing their devastation, saying they would take time to grieve the loss of their ‘brother.’
Reports from Buenos Aires indicate that Payne tragically fell from a hotel balcony around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, as initially reported by TMZ.
Local media sources suggest that Payne was in Buenos Aires to attend a concert by his former bandmate, Niall Horan. Just an hour before the accident, Payne shared on Snapchat his plans for the day, including playing polo, as reported by Sky News.
TMZ also noted that Payne’s girlfriend, Texas model Kate Cassidy, left Argentina on October 14.
Cassidy shared a heartfelt message in one of Payne’s final photos before his death, which showed him horseback riding. She captioned it: “I am very grateful for the simple things in life.”
According to MailOnline, Payne’s final Snapchat post, minutes before his death, was a mirror selfie of him and Cassidy smiling together.
Payne’s close friend, Jodie Richards, shared the last texts she received from the singer, just hours before his death.
Richards, who had been Payne’s performing arts teacher at Pink Productions in Wolverhampton, said she initially thought the news of his death was a hoax. Payne had sent her a message earlier that week, casually checking in. He also sent her a photo from his hotel room in Argentina, and nothing in their exchange seemed unusual.
On the day of his death, Payne texted Jodie in the morning asking if she was awake. She later replied, asking if he was okay, to which he simply responded, ‘yeah,’ and mentioned he was just ‘chilling’ in Argentina.
When the news broke, Richards tried calling and texting him, but when she received no response, she began to fear the worst. She described her devastation, calling it a ‘wicked waste of a life.’
She remembered Payne as a ‘cheeky chappy’ who always knew how to make people laugh.
Alberto Crescenti, head of Argentina’s state emergency medical system, confirmed to Todo Noticias TV that Payne fell into the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel.
A 911 call was made, and when police arrived at the hotel in Palermo, a loud noise was heard coming from the courtyard.
Doug Jones, a guest, recalled to The Guardian: “I thought they were doing construction… it was loud, bizarre.”
“Later I heard the sirens, thinking perhaps there was a fire somewhere. And then I heard a very loud scream.”
Hotel staff, concerned about Payne’s well-being, contacted emergency services, stating: “We need you to send us someone urgently because, well, we don’t know if the guest’s life is at risk… He is in a room that has a balcony,” per the Independent.
The hotel room was found in disarray, with packs of clonazepam, energy supplements, and other over-the-counter drugs scattered around. Additionally, police discovered broken items, a whiskey bottle, a lighter, and Payne’s cell phone in the hotel courtyard where his body was found.
In a 2019 interview with The Guardian, Payne reflected on the band’s early years, describing the group dynamic as challenging but formative.
He likened the experience to university, though he struggled with the pressures of fame, admitting that it led to moments of burnout and claustrophobia.
“It was a point where every day, you didn’t know whether it was going to be the end,” he shared. “It was so touch and go, at every single show. I was slowly losing the plot.”
Rebecca Ferguson, runner-up in The X Factor the year One Direction competed, reflected on Payne’s passing.
“I can’t help but think of that boy who was hopeful and looking forward to his bright future ahead,” she tweeted.
“I’ve spoken for years about the exploitation and profiteering of young stars and the effects – many of us are still living with the aftermath and the PTSD. Many of us are devastated and reflective today as it has finally taken its first victim.”
Crescenti stated that Payne fell approximately 40 meters, suffering injuries that were ‘incompatible with life.’
He explained: “The alarm was raised at 5:04 p.m. local time, saying a person was lying in an internal patio at Casa Sur. At 5:11 p.m., an ambulance arrived, and the man was certified dead. Afterward, we found out he had been a famous singer.”
Crescenti added that preliminary autopsy reports indicated Payne died due to multiple traumas and significant internal and external bleeding, as reported by The Mirror.
Police had reportedly been called to the hotel earlier after receiving reports of an ‘aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.’
A toxicology report is still pending.
Despite their quick response, Payne was pronounced dead shortly after the 911 call was placed at 5:01 p.m. local time.
Liam Payne is survived by his seven-year-old son, Bear Grey Payne, from his previous relationship with Cheryl Tweedy. He also leaves behind his parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, and his two sisters, Ruth and Nicola.