- Liam Payne, 31, dies after balcony fall in Buenos Aires
- Witnesses report he was heavily intoxicated
- Fans honor him with a memorial outside the hotel
Liam Payne, the 31-year-old former member of the globally renowned boy band One Direction, has died after a tragic fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The incident occurred on Wednesday at the Casa Sur Hotel, located in the Palermo district.
Emergency services arrived at the scene following reports that Payne had fallen from the third floor of the hotel. Upon their arrival, they pronounced him dead due to “extremely serious injuries” sustained in the fall.
According to an Associated Press report, the hotel manager alerted authorities via a 911 call, describing Payne as “overwhelmed with alcohol” and exhibiting aggressive behavior prior to the fall. The call indicated that he was causing significant damage to his hotel room, raising concerns about the potential danger posed by the balcony.
Pablo Policicchio, the communications director for the Buenos Aires Security Ministry, confirmed that Payne had “jumped from the balcony of his room.” An investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death is currently underway, with an autopsy being performed to gather more information, as stated by Alberto Crescenti, head of the state emergency medical system.
Payne had been candid about his struggles with alcoholism, previously sharing in a July 2023 YouTube video that he had achieved six months of sobriety following treatment. As of now, his representatives have not issued a statement regarding the tragic incident.
Following the announcement of his death, fans of One Direction gathered outside the Casa Sur Hotel to mourn the loss of the beloved singer. A makeshift memorial was created, adorned with candles and flowers, as fans paid their respects to an artist who touched the lives of millions.
