Former One Direction member Liam Payne dead at 31

Liam Payne has died age 31.

The One Direction singer fell from Hotel Casa Sur balcony this afternoon in Buenos Aires, Argentina, state police have said.

They attended the hotel after receiving an emergency call. When arriving on the scene, the officer in charge said he heard a loud sound in the inner courtyard.

Alberto Crescenti, head of the Buenos Aires medical emergency services SAME, spoke on the television channel TN: ‘Our role was to head there quickly, give medical attention, and try to resuscitate him, but his injuries were incompatible with life.’

Payne’s cause of death has not yet been confirmed as they are awaiting autopsy results. ‘However, based on what the team saw, there was apparently a cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death,’ Crescenti added.

Payne was dead when emergency services arrived, and forensic scientists were sent to the scene. Police said the body had been transported to a morgue.

The police were called to the scene after being ‘informed of an aggressive man who may have been under the effects of drugs and alcohol’.

The Foreign Office has confirmed it is contact with local authorities in Argentina ‘regarding reports of the death of a British man’.

Fans have since gathered outside of the hotel, which has been cordoned off with tape by police. All the curtains were closed on the building following the tragedy.

The Guardian reported that many people were in tears, and looking at the hotel in disbelief.

‘I’m feeling heartbroken. I remember when I was a kid I had a lot of bullying in my school and his songs helped. I’m devastated. I came as soon as I heard the news,’  26-year-old fan Martina Belaustgui told the publication.

Earlier this month, Payne attended one of Niall Horan’s concerts in Argentina. He was dancing at his Movistar Arena show on October 2 alongside his girlfriend Kate Cassidy.

The singer was 16 when he joined One Direction in 2010 after being put in the group during an X Factor audition alongside Niall, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson.

Their hits, including What Makes You Beautiful, Story of My Life, and Night Changes, made them global stars. Together, they achieved four UK number one albums, four number ones singles and worldwide fame.

Following the band’s hiatus announcement in 2016, Payne began releasing solo music. This included single Strip That Down in 2017 and the album LP1 in 2019. He also collaborated with Rita Ora on For You which was part of the Fifty Shades Freed soundtrack. He was due to release his second solo album this year, but it was reportedly pulled.

Payne is survived by Bear, born in 2017, who he shared with former partner Cheryl. Payne and Cheryl dated between 2015 and 2018.

He last publicly spoke about Bear on his 31st birthday in August. In an Instagram video, he sweetly said: ‘I’m going to speak to my son in a little bit which I’m really excited about.

‘Bless him. He’s getting so big now. He’s a big boy and he looks like a mini me.’

Tributes have begun for Payne as fans and friends learn of the devastating news.

‘RIP Liam Payne condolences to friends and family,’ shared brothers John and Edward Grimes, who are known as Jedward.

Rylan, who also found fame on X Factor wrote: ‘Extremely sad news. V tragic and so young. RIP Liam x.’

Dermot O’Leary, who previously hosted the ITV singing competition said: ‘The worst news. I remember him as a 14 year old turning up to audition on The X Factor, and blowing us away singing Sinatra. He just loved to sing.

‘He was always a joy, had time for everyone, polite, grateful, and was always humble. Sending love and prayers to his family. Dx.’

Paris Hilton wrote: ‘So upsetting to hear the news of @LiamPayne passing Sending love and condolences to his family & loved ones. RIP my friend.’ Steven Bartlett called the news ‘absolutely heartbreaking’.

A statement on the official X account for the Brit Awards said: ‘We’re incredibly sad to learn of the tragic passing of Liam Payne. Our thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family at this time’. One Direction won three Brit Awards while performing together.

Harry Styles’ mother Anne, 56, took to Instagram posting a broken heart emoji over a black screen, with the caption: ‘Just a boy…’ alongside another broken heart.

Fans also shared their condolences on Payne’s final Instagram post.

In August last year, Payne postponed his scheduled tour of South America after suffering from a ‘serious kidney infection’.

He said the infection was something ‘I wouldn’t wish on anyone’ and he had been instructed by doctors to ‘rest and recover’.

Payne previously spoke about suffering some ‘very dark years’. ‘There were a couple of very dark years of me going through extreme peril with different mental health things,’ he told BBC.

Following the end of his relationship with Cheryl, Payne began dating Maya Henry, who he eventually proposed to. In recent days, he was reportedly sent a cease and desist by Maya over ‘obsessive’ contact.

Payne was born in Wolverhampton in 1993 to Karen, an infant nurse, and Geoff, a fitter. 

He originally auditioned for X Factor in 2008, but was told to return in two years by judge Simon Cowell.

In 2010, he auditioned as a solo artist once again, but was put into a group. One Direction was formed, and they finished in third place behind Matt Cardle and Rebecca Ferguson. Despite not winning, they managed to become one of the most successful boybands of all time.

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