Former One Direction member Liam Payne has died aged 31 while on vacation in Buenos Aires, police have confirmed.
The singer was reportedly found dead after falling from the third floor of a building in Argentina's capital at around 5 p.m. local time on Wednesday.
BBC News reports that local police had responded to an emergency call from the Casa Sur Hotel in Palermo relating to an "aggressive man who may have been under the effects of drugs and alcohol." Officers on the scene then reported hearing a loud sound in the hotel's courtyard.
Buenos Aires Police said Payne's fall resulted in "extremely serious injuries," and that he was confirmed dead at the scene, CBC News reports
Speaking on Argentinian television on Wednesday evening, Alberto Crescenti, head of the state emergency medical system, declined to comment on whether Payne fell by accident from the building. Local authorities are investigating and will conduct a post-mortem.
Reports suggest mourning fans are already gathering outside of the Buenos Aires hotel where Payne died, although police have cordoned off the entrance to the building.
In the hours leading up to his death on Wednesday, the One Direction star posted several since-deleted pictures and videos to his social media accounts. In one image, he told fans he was having a "lovely day in Argentina" with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy. In another, the couple laid out their plans for the day while eating breakfast.
It is believed Payne had travelled to Argentina earlier this month to attend his former bandmate Niall Horan's concert. He had recently celebrated his 31st birthday in the U.K.
Payne shot to fame in 2010 as a member of British boyband One Direction, who were formed on the U.K. reality competition show The X Factor. Although he initially auditioned for the show as a solo artist, Payne was later matched with Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan to form One Direction. They went on to become one of the best-selling bands of all time, before going on an indefinite hiatus in 2016.
In addition to being a singer, Payne was a father to seven-year-old Bear, who he shared with former Girls Aloud band member and The X Factor judge, Cheryl Cole. The couple split in 2018.
Payne had previously been engaged to YouTuber Maya Henry, but their relationship came to an end in 2022.
As the news of his death broke, tributes from fans, celebrities and those who knew Payne personally began pouring in.
This is a developing story. Check back for more details.
