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Liam Payne death latest: Preliminary autopsy reveals One Direction star died of multiple traumas caused by hotel fall

Singer has died aged 31 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires

Roisin O'Connor,Kevin E G Perry
Thursday 17 October 2024 14:21 EDT
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One Direction singer Liam Payne dies aged 31

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One Direction star Liam Payne has died suddenly aged 31, after falling from a hotel balcony in the Palermo neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Local authorities have said they will conduct an autopsy and investigate the circumstances surrounding the singer’s death.

Payne’s family said in a statement issued by his spokeswoman: “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.

”We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”

Simon Cowell has responded to the news, while stars including Liam Gallagher, X Factor host Dermot O’Leary and Harry Style’s mother Anne Twist are among those to have paid tribute.

Payne rose to fame while competing on season five of The X Factor in 2010, when he was placed in the band One Direction along with Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik.

They went on to become one of the world’s most successful boybands, selling 70 million records and performing in stadiums around the world.

Liam Payne: The best way to support young fans following singer’s shock death

Liam Payne: The best way to support young fans following singer’s shock death

Devastated fans congregated outside the Casa Sur Hotel this morning to lay flowers and light candles

Roisin O'Connor17 October 2024 19:21

COMMENT: 'The internet response to Liam Payne’s death is disturbing and points to an emotionally inept generation’

Fans of the One Direction singer took to social media to express their grief – but, asks Ryan Coogan, aren’t there better ways to pay tribute than with reaction gifs and emojis?

Liam Payne’s death made me realise something disturbing about Gen Z

Fans of the One Direction singer took to social media to express their grief – but, asks Ryan Coogan, aren’t there better ways to pay tribute than with reaction gifs and emojis?

Roisin O'Connor17 October 2024 19:01

Liam Payne’s life after One Direction: Fame, fall outs and fatherhood

One Direction’s split seemed inevitable, but the break-up of one of the most successful boybands of all time still made headlines around the world and devastated millions of fans.

Formed on reality TV show The X Factor in 2010, the five-piece comprised late singer Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson. Despite placing third in the contest, the band shot to international fame upon the release of their debut single, the pop-rock anthem “What Makes You Beautiful”.

For the next six years, One Direction experienced a level of fame not seen since Beatlemania: screaming, hysterical fans; paparazzi; intrusive tabloid stories. After the band split in 2016 following a final farewell tour, each of the five members pursued solo careers with varying degrees of success.

Somewhat surprisingly, Payne – who had long-harboured ambitions of being a singer like his idols, Justin Timberlake, Usher and Chris Brown – admitted in 2017 that he had doubts about going solo. “I was just going to go into songwriting and carry on and do that,” he told Billboard. “But then I was like, ‘You’ve been trying to do this since you were 14 years old. You would be ridiculously stupid to turn down the option to have a deal.’ Coming out of the band, we had some pretty good opportunities around us. I had to do something.”

Liam Payne’s life after One Direction: Fame, fall outs and fatherhood

Singer was open about his experiences in the aftermath of the band’s split, as he pursued a solo career and had a son with former ‘X Factor’ judge, Cheryl Tweedy

Roisin O'Connor17 October 2024 18:41

Liam Payne’s cause of death has been revealed in a preliminary autopsy

Payne died of multiple traumatic injuries caused by his fall from a third-floor hotel balcony, police in Buenos Aires, Argentina have confirmed.

A preliminary autopsy indicated that the singer suffered “internal and external” hemorrhages and multiple traumatic injuries, according to the report seen by multiple outlets.

A toxicology report is still pending.

Read the full story here:

Liam Payne cause of death revealed in preliminary autopsy

Liam Payne suffered ‘internal and external’ bleeding after fatal fall from hotel balcony, initial autopsy reveals

Kevin Perry17 October 2024 18:29

Liam Payne praises son Bear and Cheryl as he speaks of being a better father in resurfaced video

Liam Payne praises Cheryl as he speaks of being a better father in resurfaced clip

Liam Payne praised his son Bear and his former partner Cheryl Tweedy as he spoke of being a better father in a resurfaced video after the One Direction singer's death aged 31. In the video, which was recorded in the summer of 2023, the singer revealed he was in a much better place, having spent nearly 100 days in a rehab facility. Payne thanked his then six-year-old son Bear and mother Cheryl for “giving me a little bit of freedom to go and get well in that moment because I had to.” "There's no point trying to be a dad when you've nothing to teach," Payne said. The musician passed away after falling from a hotel balcony in the Palermo neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday, 16 October, police said.

Roisin O'Connor17 October 2024 18:21

Who is Liam Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy? Inside One Direction singer’s last relationship before death

Liam Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy had been on holiday with the singer in the days before his death.

The One Direction singer was found dead, aged 31, in a hotel courtyard in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at around 5pm local time on Wednesday (16 October) after he sustained “extremely serious injuries” from a fall from a balcony on the third floor.

Payne was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities will now perform an autopsy and investigate the cause of death.

In the days before his death, his girlfriend of two years, 25-year-old Cassidy, had joined him on his trip to Argentina, and the pair had been documenting their trip together online.

Full story:

Who is Liam Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy? Inside One Direction star’s relationship

Payne was on holiday with influencer girlfriend in days before his death

Ellie Muir17 October 2024 18:01

What we know about One Direction’s Liam Payne’s sudden death at a Buenos Aires hotel

What we know about Liam Payne’s sudden death at a Buenos Aires hotel

Authorities launch investigation into the circumstances surrounding the former One Direction member’s death

Roisin O'Connor17 October 2024 17:41

Scott Mills ‘can’t bear that this is where Liam’s story has ended’

BBC Radio 2 host Scott Mills has said he “can't bear that this is where Liam's story has ended” as he remembered the time he spent with the late singer over the years.

He opened his afternoon show on the station by saying: “The tragic news about Liam Payne is a really hard one to take in because I never thought we would have to say goodbye to him so soon.

“I had so much fun with One Direction, as a lot of you will know, over the years and their memories will stay with me for life, and Liam was such a big part of it.”

He joked that at times he felt like the sixth member of One Direction as he was with them so often during their heyday when he presented on BBC Radio 1.

Mills also recalled laughing with Payne when the singer's father Geoff wanted a selfie with him at the One Direction movie premiere despite having met stars like David Beckham and Mariah Carey beforehand.

The presenter held back tears as he gave a special message to him, saying: “So, Geoff, I don't know if you're hearing this, but my heart goes out to you today and to the rest of Liam's family, and, of course, to his little boy.”

He added: “I just feel so incredibly sad about all of this. Liam, we had so much fun and you were always the kindest, most caring person to me.

“Thank you for letting me be part of your ride. I will never forget it. The band were all so lovely always, but Liam was kind of the grown-up one in the group, the wise one. And I can't bear that this is where Liam's story has ended.”

He then dedicated “Story Of My Life” by One Direction to Payne, his family and his fans.

Press Association

Roisin O'Connor17 October 2024 17:21

Liam Payne praises son Bear and Cheryl as he speaks of being a better father in resurfaced video

Liam Payne praises son Bear and Cheryl as he speaks of being a better father in resurfaced video
Roisin O'Connor17 October 2024 17:00

Singer Rita Ora, who performed with Liam Payne on “For You” - from the film Fifty Shades Freed - said the news of his death “breaks my heart”.

“I’m devastated,” she said in a statement. “He had the kindest soul, I will never forget. I loved working with him so much - he was just such a joy to be around on and off stage.

“This tragic news breaks my heart. Sending all my love and prayers to his family and loved ones. Our song For You takes on a whole new meaning for me now. R.I.P”

Roisin O'Connor17 October 2024 16:41

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