Liam Payne’s family are “devastated” following the 31-year-old’s death in Argentina.
The father of one – who shot to stardom as a member of British boy band One Direction – died after falling from a balcony on the third floor of Casa Sur Hotel in the Palermo neighbourhood of Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires.
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It’s understood Payne arrived in Argentina on September 30 with girlfriend Kate Cassidy and was seen in attendance at fellow bandmate Niall Horan’s concert on October 2.
In a statement, Liam’s family said: “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 during this awful time.”
His parents Geoff and Karen Payne were seen leaving home “in a hurry” at midnight as news of their son’s death reached the family home in Wolverhampton.
A family member who answered the door told The Sun: “We’re obviously devastated at the news but we don’t want to comment.”
Buenos Aires police said they found Payne’s hotel room “in complete disarray,” with packs of clonazepam, a central nervous system depressant, as well as energy supplements and other over-the-counter drugs strewn about and “various items broken.”
They said a whiskey bottle, lighter and a phone were retrieved from the internal hotel courtyard where Payne’s body was found.
Initial autopsy results indicated that Payne suffered hemorrhages and multiple traumatic injuries, a Buenos Aires security official said on condition of anonymity.
The official said the report showed that Payne’s plunge from the third-floor balcony was what caused his fatal injuries, however, the circumstances surrounding his sudden death remain uncertain.
Police said they had rushed to the hotel in response to an emergency call just after 5pm local time on Wednesday that had warned of an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol”.
A hotel manager can be heard on a 911 call recording saying the hotel has “a guest who is overwhelmed with drugs and alcohol … He’s destroying the entire room and, well, we need you to send someone, please.”
The manager’s voice becomes more anxious as the call goes on, noting the room has a balcony.
Payne was known as the tousle-headed, sensible one of the quintet that went from a TV talent show to a pop phenomenon with a huge international following of swooning fans.
In recent years he had acknowledged struggling with alcoholism, saying in a YouTube video posted in July 2023 that he had been sober for six months after receiving treatment.
Forensic investigators were seen leaving the building, from where Payne’s body was removed around three hours after the fall.
Payne had a 7-year-old son, Bear Grey Payne, with his former girlfriend, the musician Cheryl, who was known as Cheryl Cole when she performed with Girls Aloud.
Payne was previously engaged to Maya Henry, from August 2020 to early 2022. Henry released a novel earlier this year that she said was based on their relationship.
In addition to his son, he is survived by his parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, and his two older sisters, Ruth and Nicola.
