The death of British singer Liam Payne, ex-member of the boy band One Direction, is due to his fall from the 3rd floor of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, in a context of “consumption of alcohol and narcotics”, according to the first results of the investigation.
The autopsy carried out late Wednesday evening established that the 31-year-old singer had, due to his fall, suffered “multiple trauma” and “internal and external hemorrhage” which caused death, according to a press release from the prosecutor’s office. .
A preliminary report shows “25 injuries consistent with a fall from a great height.”
Liam Payne occupied a room on the 3rd floor, with a balcony overlooking a backyard, a height of almost 14 meters. The medical team that rushed to the scene could only “pronounce death”. “There was no possibility of resuscitation,” according to the emergency chief.
Before his fall, shortly after 5 p.m. local time, the hotel had called the emergency number 911: “We have a guest who is overwhelmed by drugs and alcohol and destroying his room, we need you to send someone !”.
“He has a room with a balcony and we are a little afraid that he will do something that puts his life in danger,” the receptionist said, asking for “urgent help”.
Narcotics
In photos of the room published in several media, we can see a television with a broken screen, bottles, cans with burn marks, candles, traces of white powder on a table, a half-finished glass of champagne. drank.
According to the prosecution, “a series of substances were seized in the musician’s room which would support a previous situation of consumption of alcohol and narcotics”.
The results of histopathological, biochemical and toxicological analyzes were not initially known on Thursday.
Liam Payne had openly spoken about his difficult relationship with fame and his problems with alcoholism which, as he revealed in 2023, had led him to a rehab center.
Emotion mondiale
A few minutes after the announcement of the singer’s death, dozens of fans converged on the “Casa Sur” hotel, performing some of the British boy band’s hits.
“I feel like it’s a part of my adolescence that’s been lost,” Lena Duek, 21, told AFP.
On Thursday again, young people, especially girls, passed by in small groups, stopped for a moment, suppressed a tear, humming this or that One Direction song, “Moments”, in particular. And looking at flowers, candles, messages left since Wednesday evening in front of the hotel.
“You will always be in our hearts” (in English), “You have always accompanied me and you will continue to do so. Just thank you!”, “Thank you for being part of my life. I will continue to listen and love your voice”, said some of the messages scribbled on a paper, taped to the sidewalk or a tree.
“One Direction was one of the biggest groups in history, and their music had a huge impact on millions of fans,” responded a spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who presented his “sincere condolences” to the artist’s loved ones.
The family of the Briton, born August 29, 1993 in Wolverhampton, said in a statement that they were “heartbroken” and asked for “privacy and space at this terrible time.” “Liam will forever live in our hearts, and we will remember him for his kindness, his humor and his courage,” it added.
“Unconsciousness”?
“Everything seems to indicate that the musician was alone at the time of his fall and that he was going through an episode of substance abuse,” notes the prosecution, seeming to rule out the intervention of a third party.
On Payne’s hands “no ‘defensive’ type injuries were found,” according to the autopsy. “All the injuries were vital and produced simultaneously.”
These injuries and the position of the body on the ground suggest that “Payne did not adopt a reflex posture to protect himself (in the fall) and that he may have fallen into a state of semi-unconsciousness or unconsciousness total”. Which would validate an accidental thesis.
Solo careers
Liam Payne was, along with Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Harry Styles, one of the members of the boy band formed in 2010 and which enjoyed dazzling success.
According to Billboard magazine, the singer attended a Niall Horan concert on October 2 in Buenos Aires.
One Direction, who was one of the most lucrative boy bands in the world, with their smooth and light pop, released their fifth and final studio album, “Made in the AM” in 2016.
The announcement the same year of a break in the group’s career, never formalized as a separation, upset millions of fans.
With less success than Harry Styles or Zayn Malik, Liam Payne then launched a solo career. Her debut album, “LP1”, was released in 2019, and her single “Strip that Down” reached number three in the UK charts.
Last year, Liam Payne announced that he was working on a second album, and had just released a new single in March 2024.
This article was automatically published. Sources: ats / afp
