Liam Payne’s father has paid tribute to his late son outside the Buenos Aires hotel where he tragically fell to his death. Payne, 31, died after falling from the third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday, October 16.
A post-mortem examination revealed that the singer died from multiple traumas and both internal and external hemorrhages resulting from the fall. His body was found in the hotel’s internal courtyard.
According to a transcript from the Buenos Aires police, hotel staff made two emergency calls reporting a guest who was “intoxicated by drugs and alcohol.” Police also noted that Payne’s hotel room was in “complete disarray,” with several broken items, as investigations into the “inconclusive death” continue.
Geoff Payne, Liam’s father, has traveled to Argentina to arrange the repatriation of his son, according to the Associated Press. He was seen at the Casa Sur Hotel, where fans have laid flower tributes in memory of Liam.
Sky correspondent Martha Kelner reported that as Geoff Payne stood among the tributes, he “paused occasionally to put on his glasses and read the notes in English, picking up pictures to kiss them.” Geoff also expressed his gratitude to fans who gathered to mourn.
Kelner added that Geoff was not permitted to enter the room where Liam died, as it remains an active investigation scene, but he was shown a room with a similar layout. Earlier, Geoff visited the morgue to confirm his son’s identity and met with the prosecutor’s office to arrange for Liam’s return to the UK.
On Thursday, October 17, Payne’s family issued a statement expressing their devastation: “Liam will forever live in our hearts. We’ll remember him for his kind, funny, and brave soul. As a family, we are supporting each other as best we can and ask for privacy during this terrible time.”
Payne’s former partner and the mother of his seven-year-old son, Cheryl Cole, also shared her grief, pledging to protect their child in the wake of Liam’s death. In an emotional Instagram post, she wrote: “As I try to navigate this earth-shattering event and work through my grief, I want to remind everyone that we’ve lost a human being. Liam wasn’t just a pop star; he was a son, a brother, an uncle, a dear friend, and a father to our seven-year-old son—a son who now faces the reality of never seeing his father again.”
