According to Buenos Aires emergency services chief Alberto Crescenti, medical teams couldn’t save the former One Direction crooner due to his severe injuries.
Liam Payne died after falling from the third floor of his hotel in Buenos Aires on October 16, 2024. Medical professionals who attended to him on the scene have revealed the cause of his death.
Payne died instantly after his fall due to multiple injuries, including a fractured skull. Alberto Crescenti shared that his team got to the scene as fast as possible to give him medical attention and resuscitate him but they couldn’t as he had died due to the severity of his state.
“Based on what the team saw, there was apparently a cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death,” he explained.
Crescenti confirmed that Liam Payne had fallen into the hotel’s internal patio but did not address claims regarding his possible intoxication or drug use. He emphasized that authorities were still waiting for the autopsy results and advised against making premature conclusions.
Just minutes before his death, Payne posted a Snapchat photo featuring himself and his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, as they looked into a mirror.
After his death, his body stayed at the hotel for over three hours before it was taken away at 8:38 p.m. local time. He was transported to a city morgue on Viamonte Street last night (October 16), located about a 15-minute drive southwest of the boutique hotel.
Pathologists in Buenos Aires are scheduled to perform a post-mortem on October 17, 2024, to begin addressing questions about the singer’s untimely death. They will also test for signs of alcohol or drug use before the incident at the CasaSur Palermo hotel.
Although officials have not provided a timeline for the test results, local reports suggest it could take between 10 to 15 days. The prosecutor leading the investigation into Payne’s death has been identified as Andrés Esteban Madrea.
If it is confirmed that narcotics were found in the singer’s hotel room and contributed to his death, authorities are likely to investigate who provided the drugs, with a potential prosecution to follow.
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While many details remain unclear, several Argentinian newspapers have published photos from inside Payne’s deluxe suite. The images revealed a burnt fizzy drink can, traces of a white powder speculated to be cocaine, and pieces of aluminum foil on the desk. A crumpled, burnt piece of aluminum foil was also found in the bathroom, and the TV screen in the room had been shattered.
More information about the tragic night has emerged, including the details of a distressing 911 call made by a panicked hotel manager requesting immediate assistance prior to Payne’s death.
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Argentinian police responded to the hotel on October 16, 2024, after staff reported concerns about a man behaving aggressively, potentially under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The head of reception made two calls, initially reporting that a guest was causing significant damage to his room. In a second call, following a disconnection, he urged, “We need to send someone with urgency because I don’t know if the guest’s life is in danger because he is in a room with balcony, and we are afraid he could do something that threatens life.”
After the news of Payne’s tragic death, celebrities, including Charlie Puth and Paris Hilton, have mourned him with heartfelt posts on social media. They are shocked and heartbroken by his death and have sent their condolences to his loved ones.
Numerous distressed fans have gathered at the hotel, with many in tears as they lit candles and placed mementos at a makeshift shrine. Several grieving fans began to sing the One Direction ballad, “If I Could Fly,” with the poignant line, “If I could fly, I’d be coming right back home to you.”
Heartfelt handwritten messages in both Spanish and English have been attached to a tree outside the Hotel CasaSur Palermo, where fans have also left candles and flowers at its base.
Payne was staying at the 4-star accommodation in the Latin American country when the fatal fall happened, according to police. As we previously reported, emergency services were called to the hotel to respond to a man acting erratically, possibly under the influence, according to Crescenti.
Crescenti explained to the local media outlet TN that the singer died after he fell from a height of 13 to 14 meters (42 to 45 feet) and described his injuries as “very serious” and “incompatible with life.”
Witnesses also reportedly told TMZ that Payne was acting erratically in the hotel lobby earlier in the day. Before the incident, there were allegations that he had destroyed his laptop and required assistance returning to his room.
Several hotel guests confirmed that the singer was seen falling from the third-floor balcony just after 5 p.m., although it remains unclear whether this was accidental or intentional.
Authorities quickly responded to the scene and set up a red tent over the scene as they began their investigation. Crescenti mentioned that emergency services arrived at 5:11 p.m., just a few minutes after the emergency call. Unfortunately, there was no possibility of saving Payne, whose identity was only confirmed after he was pronounced dead.
Payne had been in Argentina earlier in the month to reunite with his former One Direction bandmate, Niall Horan, who was having a concert. The 31-year-old singer had been a key member of the globally successful boy band, joining the group at age 16 when they were launched on “The X Factor.” They achieved massive international fame before disbanding in 2015.
Payne is survived by his son, Bear, whom he shares with singer Cheryl Cole. The couple confirmed they were expecting their first child in November 2016, with Bear born in 2017.
In a 2018 interview, Payne discussed the joys and challenges of fatherhood. “I always wanted to be a young dad, but I didn’t really expect that I’d ever be in this place,” he told People.
The singer also humorously referred to himself as “Dada Montana” as he balanced his music career with being a parent. Our prayers go out to his family and all the fans who loved him.