On Wednesday, 16 October, musician and former One Direction member Liam Payne passed away at the age of 31. His death was confirmed after he fell from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He leaves behind a seven-year-old son, Bear.
The news of One Direction singer’s death came as a shock to local fans who gathered outside the hotel. According to CNN, police were called by a staff member who reported: “We have a guest who is overwhelmed with drugs and alcohol… He is tearing the whole room apart… We’re a little afraid that he’ll do something.” A spokesman for the Security Ministry of Buenos Aires stated that Payne “threw himself from the balcony of his room.” However, the exact cause of his death is still under investigation.
Emergency medical services director Alberto Crescenti told local press that the artist fell from a height of about 14 meters, resulting in instant death. An Argentine newspaper, Clarín, had access to images of the room where Payne was staying showing matches, candle remnants, a broken television, aluminium foil and a white powder.
Payne struggled with suicidal thoughts and alcohol abuse, having previously spent 100 days in a rehab facility. Recently, his ex-fiancée, Maya Henry, initiated legal proceedings after accusing him of repeatedly contacting her, as well as her friends and family. Hours before his tragic death, the singer shared a social media post with the caption, “Lovely day in Argentina.”
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Sources: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/16/entertainment/liam-payne-death-one-direction/index.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13968815/liam-payne-dead-hotel-police-update.html