Liam Payne’s untimely death: Everything we know about the tragic incident

Former member of One Direction, Liam Payne has tragically passed away at the age of 31. Payne is understood to havefallen from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 16, 2024.

The singer—who rose to stardom through his time on The X Factor—was in Argentina to attend a concert of his ex-bandmate, Niall Horan. The now-deceased singer revealed his plans to see Horan, who he hadn't spoken with for a while, and said:

It’s been a while since me and Niall have spoken. We’ve got a lot to talk about and I would like to square up a couple of things with the boy. No bad vibes or nothing like that but we just need to talk.

The star had been staying at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel at the time of his death.

The circumstances of his death have left fans heartbroken and shocked, especially as his passing has sparked a police investigation into what really transpired.

Payne leaves behind a seven-year-old son, Bear, whom he shared with his ex, Girls Aloud singer, Cheryl Cole, his parents and two older sisters, reports The Independent.

Liam Payne's fatal fall

Payne’s death occurred under distressing circumstances, and an investigation is currently underway to understand what led to the fatal fall. According to MailOnline, authorities in Buenos Aires confirmed that Payne fell from a third-floor balcony into the internal courtyard of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel.

Alberto Crescenti, the head of the emergency medical services in Buenos Aires, confirmed that the injuries suffered by the British singer were so severe that there was ‘no possibility of resuscitating him.’ This included injuries ‘incompatible with life’ such as ‘a fracture at the base of the skull.’ He said:

The alarm was raised at 5.04pm local time saying a person was lying in an internal patio at Casa Sur. At 5.11pm an ambulance arrived and the man was certified dead. We verified his identity using the passport he had.

Afterwards, we found out he had been a famous singer. Unfortunately, the injuries he had suffered as a result of the fall proved to be fatal. There was no possibility of resuscitating him.

Crescenti added that Payne was already deceased by the time paramedics arrived. Officials are set to conduct an autopsy and investigate the cause behind Payne's death.

Circumstances leading to Liam Payne's death

Eyewitnesses and local media reports have painted a grim picture of the hours leading up to Payne’s fall. It is reported that the singer had been acting erratically in the hotel lobby and had to be escorted back to his room. He, reportedly, smashed his laptop in a fit of rage before he was 'carried' to his room.

Hotel staff made a panicked call to the police, describing an ‘aggressive man who may have been under the effects of drugs and alcohol.’ According to an audio tape of the call obtained by the Associated Press, the manager told the police:

He’s destroying the entire room and, well, we need you to send someone, please.

Minutes later, hotel workers heard a loud crash and discovered Payne’s body in the courtyard. At this point, foul play has not been ruled out, but the investigation is still in its early stages. Payne’s erratic behaviour, coupled with his history of struggles with alcohol dependency, has left many wondering whether substance abuse may have contributed to his tragic end.

In July 2023, Payne publicly shared that he had been sober for six months after a long stint in rehab, reports People. Opening up about the struggles of alcoholism, he said:

I kind of became somebody who I didn't really recognize anymore. And I'm sure you guys didn't either. I was in bad shape up until that point.

Prior to his unfortunate passing, Liam had spent a few days with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy in Argentina.

Where was his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy?

Indeed, at the time of his death, Payne had been dating Kate Cassidy, with the two first being romantically linked in October 2022. Cassidy had accompanied Payne to South America and the couple had plans to stay there for 5 days. However, she was not in the country when he fell to his demise.

On October 14, Cassidy revealed why she was flying back home in a TikTok video and said:

I was so ready to leave. Honestly, love South America but I hate staying in one place for too long. And we were supposed to be there for, like, five days, turned into two weeks…I was just like, ‘I need to go home.’

While she was still with Liam, the One Direction singer had posted about their trip on Snapchat. The video, taken in his hotel room, showed him enjoying lunch. He joked about how he and Cassidy had been waking up late and discussed their Halloween costume idea—he wanted to dress as Forrest Gump.

In another post, he shared a selfie with Cassidy, expressing how grateful he was to have some time away.

Read more:

Sinéad O'Connor's cause of death revealed a year after her passing

Matthew Perry: The investigation into Friends actor's death now involves federal law enforcement

Michael Jackson’s death: How did the singer die and what happened to Conrad Murray?

Sources used:

The Independent: What we know about One Direction’s Liam Payne’s shocking death at a Buenos Aires hotel

Daily Mail: Liam Payne dead: One Direction star 'was acting erratically with police called to his hotel over drugs and alcohol claims shortly before he fell to his death' - as his horrific injuries are revealed

People: Liam Payne of One Direction Dies at 31 After Falling from Hotel Balcony in Argentina

E! News: Why Liam Payne's Girlfriend Kate Cassidy Left Argentina Days Before His Death