British singer Liam Payne, former member of the chart-topping pop group One Direction, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 31 after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, according to police and emergency responders.
Shortly after the news broke, devastated fans—most in their 20s and 30s—gathered at the scene in the Argentine capital, where medical teams were still at work.
“The news hit me hard,” said Pilar Bilik, 27, a fan who rushed to the site.
A police statement confirmed, “Liam James Payne, composer and guitarist, former member of the band One Direction, died today after falling from the third floor of a hotel.”
The singer suffered “fatal injuries that were incompatible with life,” said Alberto Crescenti, head of the city’s SAME emergency medical service. He explained that resuscitation efforts were not possible.
Emergency personnel were dispatched to the Casa Sur hotel in the Palermo neighborhood after an emergency call was made at 5:04 PM local time (20:04 GMT). They arrived within seven minutes and “confirmed the death of the individual, who was later identified as the singer,” Crescenti added.
The police report noted that the emergency call initially described “an aggressive man who may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol.” Payne reportedly sustained a skull fracture from a fall of approximately 13 to 14 meters (43-46 feet), according to Crescenti.
‘A Piece of Adolescence Lost’
One Direction, the British-Irish boy band sensation, first rose to prominence in 2010 when Payne, along with Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik, appeared on the British TV show The X Factor. The group released an album every year during the height of their fame and became one of the highest-grossing live acts worldwide.
In 2015, Malik left the band, which continued to release music before announcing an indefinite hiatus, though not officially disbanding.
After One Direction’s hiatus, Payne pursued a solo career, beginning work on an album in 2016, following the paths of his former bandmates.
He was last seen attending a concert by Horan in Buenos Aires on October 2, according to Billboard magazine.
Fans expressed their grief outside the hotel, reflecting on Payne’s impact. “It feels like a part of adolescence is gone,” said Lena Duek, 21, who had hoped for a One Direction reunion.
“I’m in shock, I can’t believe it,” said Martina Di Lalla, 23, who lives nearby. “I had to come here.”
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