Music fans are mourning Liam Payne, former singer with the band One Direction. After his fatal fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, the authorities have now announced the first results of the autopsy of the 31-year-old.
The death of the former singer of the British band One Direction, Liam Payne, has shocked fans and the world of music. The musician died at the age of 31 after falling from a balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires. It is said that he was in the capital of Argentina because there was a concert with his former band Niall Horan.
Payne suffered serious injuries in the meter-deep fall, as announced by the public prosecutor after a medical examination of the body. The autopsy revealed that Payne suffered internal bleeding and multiple blunt trauma. The AFP news agency, citing the head of emergency services of the Argentine capital, Alberto Crescenti, reported that the singer was also diagnosed with a fractured skull base.
After his career with One Direction, Payne was active as a solo artist.
Reports of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs
However, it is still not entirely clear whether Payne’s fall from the balcony was an accident. The emergency call to the police was received shortly after 5 pm local time on Wednesday. There was talk of an “aggressive man” “who may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol”.
Argentine media reported that the hotel manager notified the emergency call center. The emergency call stated that a guest was on drugs and was destroying his room. The hotel manager also said the guest had a room with a balcony and was afraid he “could do something life-threatening”. After they arrived, the police heard an impact – and found Payne in the courtyard of the hotel.
There was said to be “complete chaos” in the singer’s room, the AP news agency quoted Pablo Policchio, a spokesman for the Buenos Aires security agency, as saying. Narcotics and over-the-counter medications were also found in the room. The newspaper “Clarín” published photographs of Payne’s room. You can also see white powder on the table, next to it lighter and aluminum foil.
Worldwide fame with the boy band One Direction
Payne was one of five members of the boy band One Direction, which was formed when the men appeared on the British talent show “The X Factor” in 2010. None of the five musicians managed to reach the final in their alone. However, the judges were one of the most successful boy bands of the time, including singer Harry Styles.
In 2016, One Direction announced that they were taking a break. Payne, who wrote many of the band’s songs, has since been active as a solo artist. His first single “Strip That Down” landed at number three in the charts and received two Brit Award nominations;
Liam Payne (second from right) with bandmates Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson in London in September 2011
The family and fans mourn
When news of his death broke, fans gathered outside the hotel for a candlelight vigil. They formed lines that stretched all the way to the outside of the street in front of the hotel. The police stood guard there. An improvised memorial was created with candles and flowers outside the hotel.
Payne’s family said they were “heartbroken” at the 31-year-old’s death. “Liam will live in our hearts forever,” he said. The former One Direction members wrote in a joint statement that they were “devastated”. “We will always cherish the memories we shared with him,” said Payne’s former bandmates. In addition to Payne, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson were in the boy band.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office sent “heartfelt condolences” to Payne’s family and friends and called One Direction “one of the greatest bands in history.”
Companions from the music world also expressed their grief on social media. Former X Factor host Dermot O’Leary paid tribute to Payne on Instagram. “Worst news,” he declared, posting a photo showing him on stage with Payne. “I remember him as a 14-year-old when he came to the audition and – singing Sinatra – he blew us away,” O’Leary wrote. “He loved to sing.”
British star Boy George in the 80s was “shocked” and “sad” on the X platform. “The news of the death of Liam Payne is so terrible,” wrote the US reality star and singer Paris Hilton on X. She broadcast “Love and condolences to his family” and those close to him.
Rapper Flavor Flav wrote “Far too young” just about X. German DJ Zedd, who collaborated with Payne on his 2017 single “Get Low,” wrote about X: “I can’t believe it’s true.”
Problems with alcohol
Payne has spoken openly about her struggles with alcohol and mental health in recent years. In July 2023, he posted a video on his YouTube channel in which he said he had been sober for six months after undergoing treatment.
He leaves a seven-year-old son from his relationship with his ex-girlfriend, musician Cheryl Cole from the group Girls Aloud. According to media reports, he is said to have traveled to Buenos Aires, among other things, to attend a concert with his former band Niall Horan at the beginning of October.
Anne Herrberg, ARD Rio de Janeiro, tagesschau, October 17, 2024 6:13 pm