Liam Payne died of multiple traumas, post-mortem examination finds

Former One Direction member Liam Payne died of multiple traumas and “internal and external haemorrhage”, as a result of a fall from the balcony of a hotel’s third-floor, a post-mortem examination report has said.

A press release from Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office No 16 said it would be investigating the incident as an “inconclusive death” after the conclusions of the report.

Payne’s family told the PA news agency in a statement issued via a spokeswoman that they were “heartbroken” and added: “Liam will forever live in our hearts, and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.”

The prosecutor’s office said five witnesses were questioned in order to reconstruct what happened on October 16 at the CasaSur Hotel in the Palermo area of Buenos Aires.

Reports say staff at the hotel made two calls to emergency services, with audio revealing a staff member had asked for assistance for a guest who was “intoxicated by drugs and alcohol”.

Police officers and the emergency services found Payne dead at the scene, and his body was transferred to the judicial morgue.

The prosecutor’s office indicated the musician was alone when the fall occurred and said he appeared to be “going through some kind of outbreak due to substance abuse”.

Forensic experts said no injuries were observed that would suggest the intervention of third parties, although “the investigation is also aimed at determining the possible intervention of third parties in the events prior to his death”.

Police in the Argentine capital previously said the music star’s hotel room had been “in complete disarray” with “various items broken”.

They added that a whiskey bottle, lighter and mobile phone had been retrieved from the internal hotel courtyard where Payne’s body was found.

Tributes have been paid to the singer after his death at the age of 31, with pictures showing shocked fans gathering outside the hotel after police cordoned off the area, with forensic investigators in white protective suits and blue gloves seen entering and leaving.

Fans were photographed lighting candles and leaving flowers at the side of the road in an impromptu vigil as they paid tribute to the music star.

Former X Factor contestants have paid tribute to Payne, with Cher Lloyd, who appeared on the ITV programme in the same year, writing on Instagram that she will “cherish the memories made and the laughs we had”.

A post from the official X Factor account on X, formerly Twitter, described Payne as “immensely talented”, while the show’s former host, Dermot O’Leary, told ITV’s This Morning the singer was “kind of both wise and sort of a young soul at exactly the same time”.

One Direction was formed in 2010, with Payne, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Harry Styles, after they individually auditioned for The X Factor.

After becoming one of the biggest pop groups in the world with five albums and four world tours, the group went on indefinite hiatus in 2016.

Payne, who was born in Wolverhampton, released his debut solo album LP1 in December 2019, which included the songs Polaroid, Familiar and Strip That Down featuring Quavo.

The song was one of two tracks that reached the top 10 in the UK official charts, alongside For You with Rita Ora from the film Fifty Shades Freed – which the duo performed at the Brit Awards in 2018.

Payne was in a high-profile relationship with Girls Aloud singer Cheryl between 2016 and 2018, and the couple had a son, Bear, in 2017.

The singer previously said he struggled with alcoholism at the peak of his success with One Direction, describing hitting “rock bottom” to The Diary Of A CEO podcast host Steven Bartlett.

He admitted his addiction to alcohol continued during the Covid pandemic, but in 2023 he posted a YouTube video confirming he was almost six months sober after nearly 100 days in a US rehab facility.

Tributes

The One Show host Roman Kemp said he was “absolutely devastated” at the news of Liam Payne’s death.

Speaking on the BBC One show, he said: “He’s a friend of mine and it’s so surreal talking about it.

“Even now, it doesn’t feel right. All I can say is that he had so much talent as a young man and (he was) someone that was so loved by so many people.

“The main thing, as well, about Liam, that I don’t know if people really know, is that behind the camera (he) is so kind to everyone, and always just wanted to put a smile on people’s faces.

“So, yeah, I was absolutely devastated, obviously. Our thoughts, all of our thoughts, are with his family and friends at this very tough time.”

Former chat show host James Corden said Liam Payne was “such a loving and kind soul” following his death aged 31.

In an Instagram post, he said: “Talking about Liam in the past tense is utterly heartbreaking.

“He was such a loving and kind soul. I will treasure the moments I got to spend with him.

“My thoughts are with his family today x.”

Payne had appeared as a guest on The Late Late Show when Corden was presenting and was also in his Carpool Karaoke segment.

Singer Halsey has said she “cannot fathom this untimely loss” regarding the death of Liam Payne and described purchasing his former home.

On Tumblr, she wrote: “I loved One Direction with an all-consuming force when I was younger. It hurts deeply to mourn someone you were a massive fan of as teenager, and became a peer of as an adult.

“I know people change and grief is unsure or complicated when it’s attached to a fond memory or the feeling a person gave you and not tangibly the person themself. I can see many of you on here are struggling with that right now and I understand.

“A few years ago I purchased a home that Liam previously owned. There were rumours the house was haunted. He assured me it was not, and I believed him. Because I know the ghosts that haunt us aren’t tethered to buildings. They live in parts of us that are harder to reach and they go wherever we do.

“As a parent, a fellow artist and a fan, I simply cannot fathom this untimely loss. My heart goes out to his family, friends, and the fans.”

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.

Radio 1 Breakfast presenter Greg James has paid tribute to Liam Payne, describing the news of his death on air as a “shock” and “destabilising”.

Opening his breakfast show on Thursday, James said: “Well that is some unbearably sad news to wake up to and we’ll all be dealing with it, you’ll be dealing with it, and we’ll be led by you as we always are on live radio shows.

“When the day throws something unexpected at us you’ve got to stick together, so that’s what we’ll do all morning.

“I don’t remember Radio 1 without One Direction and I’ve been here ages.

“2010 was the moment when really social media was just kicking off and they were basically the first big social media band.

“You’ll have made so many friends through this band and that will feel strange today. It might also be the first time someone you’ve idolised has died and that’s a really strange thing to get your head around. So go easy on yourself today because it’s a shock, it’s destabilising.”