Liam Payne death latest: Harry, Niall, Louis and Zayn’s statement in full as preliminary autopsy released

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.”

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.

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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.

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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

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”

Both in the band and out of it, the pop star struggled to find his defining identity, writes Mark Beaumont. Attempts at telling the world who he is with a second solo album and a documentary fell on deaf ears. His life now cut tragically short, the singer may remain elusive forever.

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.