Death of ex-One Direction member Liam Payne at 31 shocks fans around the world
CTV
The death of Liam Payne, who shot to stardom as a member of the boy band One Direction and grappled with intense global fame while still in his teens, sent shockwaves across the world Thursday as Argentine authorities continued their investigation at the scene.
The death of Liam Payne, who shot to stardom as a member of the boy band One Direction and grappled with intense global fame while still in his teens, sent shockwaves across the world Thursday as Argentine authorities continued their investigation at the scene.
Fans, music industry figures and fellow musicians paid tribute to Payne, 31, who died Wednesday after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.
As fans and media swarmed the Casa Sur Hotel in the trendy Palermo neighbourhood of Argentina's capital, the forensics unit worked inside on Thursday collecting evidence.
The Buenos Aires police said they found Payne's hotel room "in complete disarray" with packs of clonazepam, a central nervous system depressant, as well as energy supplements and other over-the-counter drugs strewn about and "various items broken." They added that a whiskey bottle, lighter and cellphone were retrieved from the internal courtyard where Payne's body was found.
The circumstances surrounding Payne's sudden death remain uncertain. Initial autopsy results indicated that Payne suffered hemorrhages and multiple traumatic injuries, a Buenos Aires security official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media. The official said the report showed that Payne's plunge from the third-floor balcony was what caused his fatal injuries. On Wednesday, police said Payne "had jumped from the balcony of his room," without elaborating on how they came to that conclusion or whether the jump was intentional.
Police said they had rushed to the hotel in response to an emergency call just after 5 p.m. local time Wednesday that had warned of an "aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol."
A hotel manager can be heard on a 911 call recording obtained by The Associated Press saying the hotel has "a guest who is overwhelmed with drugs and alcohol. ... He's destroying the entire room and, well, we need you to send someone, please." The manager's voice becomes more anxious as the call goes on, noting the room has a balcony.
