Former One Direction band member Liam Payne has died following a fall from a third floor balcony in Argentina.

Police had been called to attend the CasaSur hotel in the upscale neighbourhood of Palermo in the capital, Buenos Aires, after staff contact them to report a man behaving in a very aggressive manner in his room seemingly under the effects of drugs and alcohol.

They pleaded for officers to be sent “urgently” amid fears that the guest’s life was in danger and shortly after they arrived a loud sound was heard in an interior courtyard, where the body was discovered.

The 31-year-old singer suffered multiple injuries including a fractured skull, which were “incompatible with life”.

Once news of his death broke, fans began gathering outside the plush hotel, with many lighting candles in his memory, prompting police to cordon off the entrance.

Worried for his safety

Liam Payne had been in Argentina for a couple of weeks after initially attending a concert by his former bandmate Niall Horan. He had been with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy, but she left for home several days ago, insisting that she never likes to stay in one place for too long.

On Wednesday 16 October the hotel called 911 to register their concern for a guest who they believed could have been under the effects of drugs and alcohol and was “trashing his room”.

They were genuinely worried for his life especially with regards to the presence of a balcony which was some 40 feet above floor level.

Death would have been immediate

Shortly after police arrived at the scene, a loud sound was heard from the inner courtyard of the hotel, where officers then found Payne’s lifeless body.

Buenos Aires emergency services chief Alberto Crescenti explained how the injuries they discovered on arriving at the scene, were “incompatible with life”.

He said: “Our role was to head there quickly, give medical attention, and try to resuscitate him, but based on what the team saw, there was apparently a cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death.”

Manufactured band enjoyed global success

Payne had risen to global fame as part of the much-loved boy-band One Direction, created on the popular UK talent show the X Factor in 2010, alongside Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik.

The band had global success with four UK number one albums and four number one singles, with hits such as: What Makes You Beautiful and Story of My Life, as well as topping charts around the world, before Malik left in 2015, prompting the band’s hiatus.

Surprise relationship with talent show judge

The singer then went on to enjoy some solo success with his debut single; Strip That Down peaking at number three on the Official UK charts.

He also married X Factor judge and former Girls Aloud star, Cheryl Tweedy, in 2016 and they had a son, Bear, the following year; although the couple split in 2018.

Tributes

Max George, from boy-band The Wanted, described his death as “absolutely devastating” adding that the two had spent some treasured time together and revealed what “wonderful” support the tragic star had given him after his own bandmate, Tom Parker fell ill.

Singer Olly Murs, who was on The X Factor a year before One Direction, said he was “lost for words” and “truly gutted and devastated for his family and of course his son Bear losing a dad.”

Pop band McFly put out a statement saying: “We are shocked and extremely sad to wake up to the news of Liam Payne’s death; our thoughts and love are with his family and friends at such a difficult time.”

Boy-band the Backstreet Boys said: “Words can not express the emotions we are collectively feeling right now; our hearts go out to Liam’s family, friends, and ‘directioners’ around the world. “Rest in peace brother”.

Set for new show

Payne did appear to be in a good place professionally, and in August this year he was announced as a judge on a new Netflix talent show alongside former Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland and The Pussycat Dolls star Nicole Scherzinger.

Although it is too early to make judgements, sadly it does appear that his personal life was not so straight forward.