Former One Direction Star Liam Payne Dies at 31 After Falling from Hotel Balcony in Argentina

Former One Direction member Liam Payne has died after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires. He was 31.

According to a police statement, the British singer passed away on Wednesday, October 16, at a hotel on Costa Rica Street in the Palermo neighborhood.

Buenos Aires police reported that officers from the 14B Police Station responded to a 911 call on Wednesday afternoon about an aggressive man who was possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Police stated that he fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in the trendy Palermo neighborhood of Argentina’s capital, suffering “extremely serious injuries.” Medics confirmed his death at the scene, according to the statement.

Pablo Policicchio, the communications director for the Buenos Aires Security Ministry, said in a statement that Payne “had jumped from the balcony of his room.”

Alberto Crescenti, head of the state emergency medical system, informed Argentina’s Todo Noticias TV channel that authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death and will conduct an autopsy.

Payne had openly discussed his struggles with alcoholism, sharing a video on his YouTube channel in July 2023 in which he stated he had been sober for six months after receiving treatment. His representatives did not immediately respond to emails and calls.

Born in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, Payne was the youngest of three siblings and attended the City of Wolverhampton College, where he studied music technology.

He was best known as a member of the famous British boyband One Direction, which included Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan.

Payne had a 7-year-old son, Bear Grey Payne, with his former girlfriend, musician Cheryl, who was known as Cheryl Cole during her time with Girls Aloud.

He was previously engaged to Maya Henry from August 2020 until early 2022. Henry released a novel earlier this year that she stated was inspired by their relationship.

In addition to his son, Payne is survived by his parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, and his two older sisters, Ruth and Nicola.