Liam Payne's cause of death revealed in preliminary post-mortem results

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.

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

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”.

Pop star Rita Ora has performed an emotional rendition of her duet with former One Direction member Liam Payne in tribute to the singer.

Payne, who collaborated with Ora on the song For You, died aged 31 after falling from the third-floor balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

During a concert in Osaka, hours after his death, Ora, 33, struggled to finish their track, released in 2018, which was part of the Fifty Shades Freed soundtrack.

In videos, widely circulated online, she can be seen sitting down saying, “I can’t even sing this right now”, while an image of the pair is projected onto the screen behind her.

In a social media post on Thursday the I Will Never Let You Down singer said: “I’m devastated. He had the kindest soul, I will never forget."

Liam Payne’s hotel room was found in a state of “total disorder” following the singer’s death aged 31, Buenos Aires police have said.

Argentine authorities said they had come across narcotics, alcohol and medicines such as Clonazepam in Payne’s room, while whiskey, a lighter and a mobile phone were found by his body.

Read the full story from The Telegraph.

Rewinding to the days before One Direction was a global pop sensation, longtime fans might recall goofy video diaries that inspired plenty of inside jokes, silly dance moves and Liam Payne being the de facto leader of the group who did the majority of the singing.

Once fondly known among 1D fans as the reliable "Daddy Direction," Liam's talent as a singer has been undeniable since he arrived on "The X-Factor" in 2010 as a 16-year-old with a Justin Bieber haircut looking for a second chance at fame. Liam wowed the judges with a cover of Michael Bublé's version of "Cry Me A River" and was eventually grouped with Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Harry Styles to make One Direction.

Read the full story from USA Today.

The alarming details of a 911 call made before Liam Payne's death at 31 have been revealed.

The former One Direction singer was pronounced dead after falling multiple stories at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday, Policía Federal Argentina confirmed to People.

Per local outlets La Nacion and Clarin, as well as Sky News, the hotel's chief receptionist called 911 after becoming worried about Payne's behaviour.

Read the full story from People.

A letter former One Direction singer Liam Payne wrote to his 10-year-old self for BBC Radio 1 has been reshared following his death at the age of 31.

In the letter, which was written in 2020, Payne tells himself that “for a while you’ll feel like giving up” before One Direction’s success, but told himself “don’t, as you’re about to meet four other guys on the same track as you are”.

Read the full story from PA.

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.

For those of us who grew up with One Direction, we are grieving the person we idolised as children, not the person he might have gone on to become, writes Emma Loffhagen for the Evening Standard.

It is a strange loss, one that is difficult to navigate. But the heart of that little fangirl still lives in me somewhere, and it is hurting. I know I’m not the only one.

Read the full story from the Evening Standard.

Downing Street has offered Sir Keir Starmer’s condolences to Liam Payne’s family and friends.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “The prime minister’s sincere condolences are with Liam’s family and friends at this time.

“One Direction were one of the biggest bands in history and their music had a huge impact on many millions of fans around the world.”

A neighbour to Liam Payne’s home in Buckinghamshire has said he was “the most down to earth and helpful guy”, following his death.

Thomas Evans, 17, who lives in St Turners Wood Drive, Chalfont St Giles, told the PA news agency that the former One Direction singer once came out of his house at 3am one night to come and check on Thomas and his siblings after they had an intruder on their property.

Read the full story from PA.

Argentine police found Liam Payne's hotel room in Buenos Aires in "total disorder" in a search after his death, the authority said in a statement on Thursday, with various broken objects, medication including clonazepam, and alcohol found scattered around.

Payne, 31, was found dead after he fell from a third-floor hotel room balcony in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, triggering an outpouring of tributes from fans.

Duo Ant and Dec have been pictured for the first time since news broke of Liam Payne's death. Britain's Got Talent, which is presented by the pair, has postponed auditions for the show following the singer's death.

Singer Rita Ora, who previously collaborated with Liam Payne, said that she was "devastated" to hear about his death.

The singer also appeared visibly upset during a performance in Japan - during which she did not sing the song the pair made together, and projected an image of them together on stage.

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.

Read the full story from The Independent.

Liam Payne – who said he would like to be a firefighter if he hadn't got famous with One Direction – was celebrated as a "hero" for saving the life of a friend when a fire broke out at his £2m flat in 2013.

At the age of 31, the singing superstar who found international fame as part of boyband One Direction has died after falling from a balcony in Argentina where he was on holiday. There has been an outpouring of grief on social media with the partner of his sister, celebrities and fans paying their respects.

Read the full story from The Mirror.

Liam Payne planned on making a new album but his what turned out to be his last ever live performance was in 2022.

During a stripped-back set of his solo music in London, Payne covered Justin Bieber’s 2015 hit Love Yourself.

It wasn’t just a simple cover of the song for Payne – the song had some relevance as he had previously spoken of the friendly rivalry between One Direction and Bieber, with both releasing albums on the same day in 2015.

However, there was no ongoing feud as Payne told Mirror Online in 2019 that the pair had already quashed any rivalry, revealing: “I went in to say to him: ‘It’s all good. You don’t need to do whatever.’ And then we had a really long chat, and he’s a really nice kid.”

By covering Love Yourself, it was perhaps Payne’s public way of showing his respect for Bieber’s music – as well as Bieber himself.

Watch Liam Payne cover Justin Bieber's Love Yourself.

Liam Payne was open about his struggles with substance abuse and mental health challenges throughout his career.

During his time in One Direction, the pressures of fame led him to use alcohol as a coping mechanism. In a 2019 interview with Men’s Health, he admitted to using alcohol to escape the overwhelming nature of celebrity life, saying it often felt like a “comfort blanket”.

He described getting "p***ed quite a lot of the time" before going on stage to perform as akin to "putting the Disney costume on". He said “there was no other way to get your head around what was going on”.

In a candid interview with Diary of a CEO in 2021, Payne reflected on his past, recalling seeing photos of himself during that period, which he described as his “pills and booze face.”

He recognised how far he had fallen, admitting that his substance use affected his mental state and relationships, and that he hit “rock bottom” during the darkest periods of his life.

After seeking help at a rehab clinic in Louisiana, Payne announced in 2023 that he had gone 100 days sober. This milestone marked a significant turning point in his journey to recovery, as he committed to prioritising his mental health and well-being.

Read more on Yahoo Life UK

Liam Payne’s family has issued their first statement following news of the singer's death.

They 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.”

The Backstreet Boys have paid tribute to Liam Payne following news of the singer's death.

Liam Payne was extremely close to his family, who still live in Wolverhampton where the singer was born and raised.

His mother, Karen, worked as a nurse and his father, Geoff, was a fitter and the pair have been consistently supportive of their son’s music career. Geoff’s Instagram bio proudly mentions his son, reading: “Proud to call myself Liam Payne's father.”

Speaking in 2017, Payne told The Telegraph that his childhood was “great”, even though “we didn’t have much”. He told the newspaper: “Dad was in debt, but they did the best they could. It makes you dream a bit, you know?”

Payne’s parents have never shied away from showing how proud they are of their son. In the 2013 documentary about One Direction, This Is Us, Karen is seen crying as she buys a cardboard cut-out of her son to take home from their concert at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Payne also has two older sister, Nicole and Ruth, who Payne has mentioned in interviews. However, the two sisters have kept their life private and away from the media glare that followed their brother throughout his career.

McFly and Busted stars have remembered Liam Payne as “such a nice human” and reflected on the pressures of being in the spotlight when in a boy band.

The McBusted supergroup previously supported One Direction on tour, the group which Payne rose to fame in alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson.

Appearing on ITV’s This Morning, McFly’s Danny Jones said: “It’s super sad. Such a nice human and it was amazing to know the guys. And I feel for his family, I feel for the band, feel for the boys, and I’m shocked. I’m genuinely shocked.”

Busted’s Charlie Simpson, who started his musical career when he was aged 16, reflected on the pressures of being thrust into the limelight in a boy band.

“It is really tough. I think that especially today with social media and the pressure that comes with it now that wasn’t around when we started, I think that makes it even tougher”, he said.

Fellow Busted bandmate Matt Willis also remembered Payne as “such a lovely bloke”, adding: “Music is so powerful and I think what One Direction achieved was unbelievable, so incredible. They’ve got such an amazing history of music, it’s a beautiful thing music.”

This Morning ended its broadcast with a tribute to the late singer.

Liam Payne is of course best known for being a member of One Direction but his life could have taken a very different path.

Before deciding he wanted to be a singer and auditioning for The X Factor, Payne had a dream to be a runner and represent Great Britain at the Olympics.

He was tipped to be a national star and woke up at 5am every day to run five miles before school.

He told the Express and Star in 2010: “I was a member of the Wolverhampton and Bilston Athletics Club and I used to get up and run five miles before school and another few miles when I came home."

For three years, Payne was ranked in the top three 1,500m runners in the country within his age group. However, he narrowly missed out on a spot in the England schools team and his path diverted to singing.

He said: “At that time it was always a choice between running or singing but I just missed out on a place in the England team. I didn't enjoy the running as much as my singing and that really made my mind up for me.”

Payne has frequently spoken of his love for fitness in interviews and has mentioned that running helps him manage stress and stay in shape.

The school in Wolverhampton which One Direction singer Liam Payne once attended has paid tribute to its former student.

St Peter’s Collegiate Academy in Compton Park said Payne was “well-liked” by friends and teachers, and “made a positive impact” on the school community.

In a post on Facebook, the school wrote: “In our thoughts and prayers.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of our former student, Liam Payne. During his time at St Peter’s Collegiate Academy, Liam was not only well-liked by his peers and teachers but also recognised for his talents.

“He made a positive impact on our school community, and his contributions will be remembered.

“Our thoughts are with Liam’s family and friends during this difficult time. We extend our sincere condolences to all those affected by his passing.”

When Simon Cowell and his fellow X Factor judges were choosing the young singers to form One Direction, it was Liam Payne he was certain of.

"He was the stand-out audition," the music mogul said, confidently, as a Polaroid of the then 16-year-old was placed on top of the smiling, fresh faces of Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson. Zayn Malik soon followed. The judges agreed Payne could be the "leader".

From footage of the process, the creation of a pop phenomenon seemingly took just a few minutes.

"I'm in a boy band," Payne excitedly told his dad in a text message after discovering he had been selected. He had no idea then how his life was going to change.

Read the full story from Sky News.

The family of Liam Payne are said to have been left “devastated” by the news of his death.

Geoff and Karen Payne left “in a hurry” at around midnight last night as news of Payne’s death reached the family home in Wolverhampton.

Nick Farnell, the partner of Payne’s sister, Nicola, told reporters this morning: “We're obviously devastated at the news but we don't want to comment.”

Neighbours said Payne’s parents left last night while two women, believed to be Payne’s sisters, were seen entering the property at 9am this morning.

One local resident, who did not want to be named, said: “You can't imagine what they are going through. I know Liam liked to get back here when he could. They will be utterly heartbroken as they very close.”

BBC Radio 1 presenter Greg James paid a personal tribute to Payne as he opened his breakfast show this morning. James told listeners the news had been “unbearably sad” to wake up to and that he would be processing it with them.

He told listeners: “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.”

In a message directly to One Direction fans, James said: “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.”

Paying a personal tribute to Payne, James said he had interviewed Payne only a few times but when he did he thought he was “so fun”, “funny” and “sweet”, before playing One Direction’s first single, What Makes You Beautiful.

Rebecca Ferguson has spoken of her "devastation" over Liam Payne's death in a tribute to the singer, calling out the "exploitation and profiteering of young stars".

The pair met when they auditioned for The X Factor together in 2010, with Ferguson finishing as the runner-up of the series and Payne's band One Direction just behind her in third place.

Ferguson has spoken out about duty of care in TV shows in the past, and referred to "PTSD" as she posted a statement about Payne's death on X.

Read the full story from Yahoo Entertainment

Liam Payne, who has died aged 31 after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, found fame in 2010 with the boy band One Direction; he was also a fixture of the tabloid press thanks to his relationship with Cheryl Cole, the product of an earlier television reality show.

One Direction, a product of television’s The X Factor, was one of the great musical stories of the past two decades. As the biggest boy band of their era this hormone-popping quintet delivered a raft of supremely well-crafted hits that became the soundtrack of a generation with their lively humour, distinct character and a charm so fizzing that they became the public face of Pepsi.

Read the full story from The Telegraph.

The X Factor has said Payne will “leave a lasting legacy on the music industry” in a tribute posted on social media following his death.

The official X Factor account posted on X: “We are heartbroken by the sad passing of Liam Payne. He was immensely talented and, as part of One Direction, Liam will leave a lasting legacy on the music industry and fans around the world.

Our thoughts are with his friends, family and all who loved him.” Payne first appeared on the fifth series of the show in 2008 when he was just 14 years old but despite a successful audition, he failed to make it to the live shows.

However, he auditioned again in 2010 – the year he was made a member of One Direction. The group ultimately came in third place.

One Direction fame was a “huge amount of pressure to be put on young shoulders”, former The X Factor presenter Dermot O’Leary said in tribute to Liam Payne.

O’Leary told his fellow ITV’s This Morning presenters on Thursday “his mum and dad were just adorable”, when he competed on the singing competition, and his “heart goes out to his family”.

He added: “He was kind of both wise and sort of a young soul at exactly the same time.

“He had this kind of old bones about him, because like his musical taste and so forth and yet he was always quite beautifully wide eyed about (the) world and his place in it and it’s such a huge amount of pressure to be put on young shoulders.

“I was just thinking about this last night, because I came in last night and saw the news, and I just thought, he’s been, not just famous, he’s had worldwide fame for basically half his life, which is an incredible amount of time for that level of pressure.”

Liam Payne had been spending time in Argentina with girlfriend Kate Cassidy before his death at the Casa Sur Hotel in the Palermo neighbourhood of Buenos Aires.

Payne had a huge amount of One Direction fans in South America and it’s where the band first played their Where We Are tour in 2014, travelling across: Bogota, Lima, Santiago, Montevideo, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires.

Reports in Argentinian media suggested that Payne was in the country to attend the concert of his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan.

The concert at the Movistar Arena took place on 2 October and video footage of the night showed Payne singing and dancing while Horan performed.

Payne spoke of having “a lot to talk about” with Horan. Payne stayed in Argentina following the concert and kept followers updated about his break with Cassidy.

In a Snapchat video just hours before his death, Payne told fans: “It’s a lovely day here in Argentina”, and spoke of his late breakfast with his girlfriend. However, the video appeared to have been taken from earlier in the week as Cassidy had already flown home to Florida when it was posted.

The annual charity Soccer Aid event has released a statement saying it is “devastated” at Payne’s death and thanked him for supporting the charity.

Payne played twice in Soccer Aid matches, most recently in 2023.

The charity posted on X: “Everyone at Soccer Aid for Unicef is devastated to learn of the sad passing of Liam Payne. Liam captained England in 2022 and returned for the 2023 match to play a second time.”

Speaking ahead of his second match in April last year, Payne said being a father encouraged him to support the charity more as he wants every child to have the “right to play”.

He told the PA news agency: “He’s fantastic and more than anything, he’s just got such a kind heart. He checks in on other kids, he even goes as far as checking in on teachers.

"And that’s what we want for every child here with what we do for Soccer Aid for Unicef. He gets the right to play, every child deserves that. I think it’s what you want to do for your whole life is still feel like a child as you go on.”

The statement made by emergency services in Argentina has been released in full, following the shock death of Liam Payne at a hotel in Buenos Aires on Wednesday.

People across the world reacted with shock and devastation to news that Liam had died at the age of just 31, with reports emerging around 10.30pm UK time that he'd fallen from a third floor balcony at the Casa Sur hotel.

Fans were quick to share their devastation over Liam's death on social media, as tributes steadily poured in from globally famous firms like MTV and Spotify and stars like Paris Hilton, Charlie Puth and Zedd, the producers Liam collaborated with on singer Get Lowe also expressed their sadness at his passing.

Read the full story from Chronicle Live.

Fans of Liam Payne lit candles and put up posters at an overnight vigil outside the Buenos Aires hotel where the star was found dead.

Micaela Ibertis said: “I feel like it's like a dream, like I'm going to sleep now and tomorrow it's all going to be a lie. I'm still so tired that I can't even understand why I'm here and what I'm doing here, I think it's going to take me a while to accept all this, it's very complicated.”

Another fan, Ernesto Sanchez, said he was thinking of Payne's loved ones during the vigil. “One thinks beyond a fan because as fans we can't do much more. I have to appreciate his art but I think about his close ones, loved ones. It makes me think about the people I have close to me and how they are emotionally.”

Former SAS: Who Dares Wins host Ant Middleton said he “formed a brotherhood” with Liam Payne after they filmed a documentary together in 2019. The ex-Special Forces soldier described the former One Direction singer as “a good friend of mine” after the pair journeyed through Namibia for the programme Ant Middleton & Liam Payne: Straight Talking.

Read the full story from OK.

British singing superstar Liam Payne was in Argentina when he died on Wednesday.

The former One Direction star was on holiday with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy, who had flown back to Florida to see their dog Nala while the singer remained alone in Buenos Aires. It was at the hotel where the singer fell from his balcony to his death.

Aged 31, the singer had only celebrated his birthday over the summer in August.

Read the full story from Yahoo Entertainment.

Former X Factor star Rebecca Ferguson has shared a social media post saying she believes Liam Payne would be alive today had he never attended his X Factor audition.

The Liverpudlian singer, 38, who finished as runner-up on the seventh series of the ITV show in 2010, has spoken out regularly criticising treatment of X Factor performers - and added in a post in the wake of Payne's death that 'many of us are still living with the aftermath and the PTSD'.

Ferguson said in 2023 that X Factor contestants are forced into contracts without independent legal advice, and before that had posted on Twitter (now X) about industry bosses who had 'blackmailed, bullied and robbed me'.

After speaking out, other X Factor contestants also made similar accusations. Lucy Spraggan, a contestant on the show in 2012, said she received no “rehabilitation or ongoing mental health treatment” after she was raped by a hotel porter during the making of the show in 2012.

Read more: Rebecca Ferguson 'devastated' over Liam Payne death as she calls out 'exploitation' (Yahoo Entertainment UK)

Food bank charity Trussell has paid tribute to singer Liam Payne for his “compassion and kindness” in helping its work.

In March 2020, Payne helped provide more than 360,000 meals to people struggling as a result of the pandemic and had spoken about wanting to “play my part in finding a solution to ensure people have enough money to buy their own food – and end the need for food banks”.

Trussell chief executive Emma Revie said: “We are extremely saddened by the news of Liam Payne’s death.

“Over the last four years, Liam was a generous supporter of Trussell and our community of food banks, not only funding the provision of more than 360,000 meals during Covid but also often joining us in calling for the solutions required to end the need for emergency food.

“We greatly appreciate the compassion and kindness he always showed to people facing hunger and hardship. His death is a very tragic loss, and our thoughts are with his loved ones.”