New details have emerged about the final moments of Liam Payne, the 31-year-old One Direction singer who died after falling from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo hotel in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. Authorities are piecing together the events leading up to his death, with disturbing images of his hotel room released by an official source showing smashed furniture, burned foil, and unknown substances.
Hotel staff called 911 approximately an hour before Payne's death, reporting a guest who was 'drunk with drugs and alcohol' and 'trashing the entire room'. The manager expressed fear that Payne's 'life might be in danger' due to the balcony in his room. Witnesses reported hearing a 'loud violent scream' shortly before the fall.
Payne had been in Argentina to attend former bandmate Niall Horan's concert. His girlfriend Katie Cassidy had left for Florida earlier, with Payne staying on. In his final social media posts, he described a 'lovely day in Argentina' and plans to play polo. A post-mortem examination confirmed the cause of death as injuries from the fall, and investigators have found Clonazepam in his system.
Payne had previously spoken about struggles with fame, mental health, and addiction, including a stint in rehab last year. Tributes have poured in from former bandmates and fellow musicians, describing him as a 'kind, funny and brave soul'.
