Liam Payne: One Direction star dead after falling from hotel balcony in Buenos Aires

WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT

Former One Direction star Liam Payne has died, aged 31.

Local media have reported the singer’s body was found after he fell from a third-storey balcony of the Casa Sur hotel in Buenos Aires.

Argentinian Police have confirmed the tragic news.

It is understood an incident occurred around 5pm local time (7am AEDT), with emergency services quickly surrounding the hotel.

Local media outlet La Nacion reported that officers were called to the Casa Sur hotel after a manager reported an “aggressive man” who may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

TMZ also reported that witnesses saw Payne acting erratically around the hotel in the hours before the tragic incident, claiming to have seen him smash a laptop before being moved to his hotel room.

Security Ministry of Buenos Aires municipality spokesperson Pablo Policicchio told The Associated Press Payne “had thrown himself from the balcony of his room”.

He said officers heard a thud and found Payne’s body in the hotel’s courtyard.

Alberto Crescenti, head of the state emergency medical system said officers were unaware of Payne’s celebrity status at the time.

“At 17.04, through 911, the integrated public security system, we were alerted about a person who was in an internal courtyard of the Casa Sur hotel. At 17.11, a SAME team arrived and confirmed the man’s death,” he said.

“We later learned that he was a singer in a musical group.

“Unfortunately, he had injuries incompatible with life as a result of his fall, so we had to confirm his death.

“There was no possibility of resuscitation.”

A red tent was set up at the hotel to cover the body.

TMZ claims it has obtained images of a body found on the ground near the hotel and said the tattoos in the image match those on Payne’s arm. The decision to post the image online has been called out by fans and musical Alessia Cara.

Crowds gathered outside the hotel as emergency services controlled the scene.

Payne had been in Argentina for fellow One Direction star Niall Horan’s concert on October 2.

Tributes from the entertainment industry have flowed online.

Paris Hilton took to X to share her heartbreak at the news.

MTV said it was “deeply saddened by the tragic incident.

“Our hearts are absolutely broken and we wish much light and strength for his family and loved ones,” MTV’s Latin American branch wrote on X.

Popular music producer Anton Zaslavski, better known as Zedd, said the news was “absolutely heartbreaking”.

Payne was in a relationship with actress Kate Cassidy.

Cassidy had been in Argentina with Payne just days before the tragic balcony incident before returning to the US.

Earlier on Thursday, Payne had appeared to post on Snapchat about his trip in Argentina, talking about riding horses, playing polo, and looking forward to returning home to see his dog.

“It’s a lovely day here in Argentina,” he said in the video.

The video has since been removed and it is understood Payne’s social media channels were managed by someone else.

Payne rose to global fame as part of the since-disbanded pop band One Direction, alongside Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson.

Payne is survived by his seven-year-old son, Bear, who he shared with his former girlfriend, UK singer Cheryl Cole.

- With Reuters

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