Liam Payne's cause of death confirmed after One Direction star's hotel balcony fall

Fans have gathered at the hotel to pay tribute

British singer Liam Payne died after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony, suffering multiple injuries including a skull fracture. Alberto Crescenti, the head of Buenos Aires emergency services, revealed that despite immediate medical attention, they were unable to save the star.

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

The former One Direction member, aged 31, died on Wednesday after the fall at a hotel in the Palermo district of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Local authorities reported that the father-of-one fell into the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel from the third floor, where medics later confirmed his death.

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Buenos Aires police initially responded to reports of "of an aggressive man who may have been under the effects of drugs and alcohol". Fans gathered outside the hotel where the musician died to pay tribute.

The area was cordoned off by the police, with forensic investigators in white protective suits and blue gloves seen entering and leaving the scene, reports the Mirror.

Fans have been seen lighting candles and laying flowers in a spontaneous vigil by the roadside, paying their respects to Liam amidst a significant police presence. The Foreign Office has confirmed that it is liaising with Argentinian authorities "regarding reports of the death of a British man", but a spokesperson refrained from providing further details, including the identity of the deceased.

Crescenti emphasised the importance of waiting for the autopsy results, urging people to avoid speculation over the star's death.

Investigations have uncovered that Liam checked into the CasaSur Hotel in the trendy Palermo district of Buenos Aires alone on October 10. It is believed his trip was inspired by the chance to meet up with Niall Horan, his former bandmate from One Direction, who had recently played at the Movistar Arena.

Pathologists are set to carry out a conclusive post-mortem examination today in Buenos Aires, beginning the process of uncovering what led to the young musician's tragic end.

Prior to his tragic death, Liam reportedly posted a video on Snapchat, saying: "It's a lovely day here in Argentina."

The pop star, who had a seven-year-old son Bear with his ex-partner Cheryl Cole, was visiting the country with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy, although it is believed she was not present on the day of his passing. Liam rose to fame as a member of the globally successful boy band One Direction, formed in 2010 alongside Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Harry Styles.

The group, which was formed after each member auditioned for The X Factor, became one of the biggest pop sensations worldwide, releasing five albums and embarking on four world tours before taking an indefinite break in 2016. Many have paid tribute to Liam, including former X Factor host Dermot O'Leary, who wrote a heartfelt message on Instagram: "I remember him as a 14-year-old turning up to audition on The X Factor, and blowing us away singing Sinatra. He just loved to sing. He was always a joy, had time for everyone, polite, grateful, and was always humble."

Olly Murs, another X Factor alum who appeared on the show a year before One Direction, expressed his shock and grief on Instagram, admitting he was "lost for words" and revealing that they shared "the same passions".

Max George from The Wanted also paid tribute, acknowledging how much Liam had supported him following the death of his bandmate Tom Parker due to a brain tumour in March 2022. In August this year, Liam was unveiled as a judge on a new Netflix show alongside former Destiny's Child singer Kelly Rowland and The Pussycat Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger.

The celebrities were tasked with assessing the attempts to form a band, closely examining the contestants' chemistry as they formed groups in the musical competition series.