31-year-old Liam Payne, a former singer in the popular British boy band One Direction, died on Wednesday after falling from a third-floor balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires.
Payne’s family released a statement on Thursday asking for privacy. “We are heartbroken,” the family said. “Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.”
According to The NY Times, here is what we know about the circumstances of his death, which led to an outpouring of grief from fans, and the ensuing investigation.
A 911 call was made moments before his death.
The Buenos Aires police released a recording of a 911 call that was placed minutes before Payne’s death from the CasaSur Palermo Hotel, where he was staying.
A man who identified himself as the hotel desk manager said on the call that a guest who appeared to have excessively consumed drugs and alcohol was “breaking everything in the room.” The manager requested urgent assistance because the room had a balcony and hotel employees were “afraid he could do something that puts his life at risk.”
Liam Payne's father, Geoff Payne, arrived at the hotel where his son lost his life. Liam's fans are fighting with the paparazzi to protect his privacy at this time, putting up their hands and backpacks so they can't take pictures. pic.twitter.com/1doIO47lYk
— 🦂 (@notdatgirll) October 18, 2024
The local prosecutor’s office, which is investigating the death, said in a statement that it appeared Payne was alone when he fell. It said investigators found broken objects and furniture in his hotel room, as well as what appeared to be narcotics and alcohol. The results of toxicology tests will most likely not be made public for several weeks.
In an autopsy performed a few hours after Payne’s death, forensic experts determined that he died from falling out of a window and that there were no signs of anyone else being involved. It is not clear whether Payne intentionally jumped or accidentally fell from the third floor.
The autopsy report was submitted to the prosecutor’s office, which said it indicated that Payne died of “multiple trauma” and “internal and external bleeding” in the skull, chest, abdomen and limbs.
The prosecutor’s office indicated that, because of the position in which the body was discovered and the 25 injuries he sustained, officials presume that Payne did not try to protect himself from the fall and may have been in a state of unconsciousness.
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