BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Former One Direction singer Liam Payne, 31, was found dead after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, local authorities said.
Buenos Aires police said in a statement that Payne fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur hotel in the Argentine capital’s trendy Palermo district, resulting in “extremely serious injuries.” Doctors confirmed his death on the spot, the press release said.
Pablo Policicchio, a spokesman for the Buenos Aires municipal security ministry, said in a statement to The Associated Press that Payne “threw himself from his bedroom balcony.” He said police were dispatched to the hotel in response to an emergency call about an “aggressive man who may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.” When police arrived, they heard a loud noise and found Payne’s body in the hotel courtyard, Policicchio said.
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Alberto Crescenti, head of the state’s emergency medical system, told Argentina’s Todo Noticias television channel that authorities were investigating the circumstances of his death and carrying out an autopsy. He declined to answer further questions about the incident, including whether Payne jumped from the balcony or fell by accident.
Argentinian media reported that Payne was in Buenos Aires to attend the concert of his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan.
Payne was one of five members of the group One Direction, formed in 2010 when they each auditioned for the British singing competition series “The X Factor.” After each singer failed to pass the competition solo, Simon Cowell and his fellow judges combined them to form what would become one of the most successful boy bands.
The group became known for their pop sound and romantic hits like “What Makes You Beautiful.” They had six Top 10 hits on the Billboard charts at the time of their disbandment in 2016. They had a loyal fan base, many of them teenage girls, who became known as “Directioners.”
Payne had a 7-year-old son, Bear Gray Payne, with his former girlfriend, musician Cheryl, known as Cheryl Cole when she performed with Girls Aloud. He is also survived by his parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, and his two older sisters, Ruth and Nicola. Representatives for Payne did not immediately respond to emails and calls.
Huamani reported from Los Angeles.
