Fans around the world are mourning Liam Payne, the former One Direction band member who tragically died yesterday at the age of 31.
Now, an autopsy has revealed the singer’s official cause of death.
Payne died on October 16 after falling from the balcony of his third-floor room at the CasaSur Palermo hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. After the singer was taken to the city’s morgue, medical professionals performed an autopsy to determine an official cause of death.
Liam Payne: Cause of Death
According to a report from National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office No. 14., Payne died from “polytrauma, internal and external hemorrhage.”
The case is being investigated as a “doubtful death,” though it appears Payne was alone at the time of the fall. His girlfriend Kate Cassidy had left Argentina two days prior.
The report also noted that Payne was “going through some kind of outbreak due to substance abuse.” Authorities at the scene reported that there were narcotics and alcoholic beverages in Payne’s hotel room.
Final hours: drugs, “trashed” hotel, 911 call
In a chilling 911 call made just moments before Payne’s death, hotel staff expressed concerns about the musician’s behavior, reporting that he was trashing his room under the influence of alcohol and drugs, warning that his life “may be in danger” and urging police to “come urgently.”
Payne had been open about his struggles with addiction in the past, admitting that he was addicted to “pills and booze” at the height of his fame with One Direction.
“In the band… the best way to secure us, because of how big we’d got, was just to lock us in our rooms. What’s in the room? A mini-bar,” he said in a 2021 interview on the The Diary of a CEO podcast. “So at a certain point I thought, I’m just going to have a party-for-one and that seemed to carry on for many years of my life. Then you look back at how long you’ve been drinking and you’re like, ‘Jesus Christ, that’s a long time.’”
In May 2023, Payne said he was 100 days sober after a stay in rehab and felt “amazing.”
Fans mourn: tributes to Liam Payne
The news of Liam Payne’s tragic death at such a young age has shocked and saddened fans around the world, as well as his peers in the music industry.
Payne shot to worldwide fame as a member of pop group One Direction, one of the most successful boy bands in history. The group, consisting of Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik, formed in 2010 and competed on The X Factor before being signed by Simon Cowell’s record label.
One Direction’s first four albums debuted at number one on the Billboard US charts, a first for any band, and produced hit singles including “What Makes You Beautiful,” Story of My Life” and “Live While We’re Young.”
The band members became teen idols, worshipped by legions of hysterical fans, and embarked on four successful world tours. After the group went on hiatus in 2016, Payne had a successful solo career.
For a generation of teen girls who grew up loving One Direction, Payne’s sudden passing came as a devastating shock. Fans have been sharing tributes on social media and even holding vigils in his honor.
“He was my favorite,” Camila Martínez, a 24-year-old mourning outside the hotel in Argentina, told the New York Times. “My heart shattered when the band split. My life was tough, and I’d turn to their music whenever I felt sad.”
Many of Payne’s musical collaborators also expressed shock and sadness.
“I am in shock right now,” the musician Charlie Puth wrote, remembering Payne as “one of the first major artists I got to work with.” “I can not believe he’s gone.”
“I’m devastated,” wrote the British singer-songwriter Rita Ora, who collaborated with Payne on the song “For You.” “He had the kindest soul, I will never forget. I loved working with him so much – he was just such a joy to be around on and off stage. This tragic news breaks my heart. Sending all my love and prayers to his family and loved ones.”
Payne’s One Direction bandmates also released a joint statement on his death this afternoon:
“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing,” their statement reads, according to the Hollywood Reporter. “In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly. The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”