Content Warning: This article discusses suicide and may be distressing to some readers.
Founding member of One Direction Liam Payne has died aged 31.
The singer was reportedly found dead outside a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Local police have confirmed that the UK musician is understood to have fallen from the third floor of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel at around 5pm local time on Wednesday, October 16.
According to the Argentinian prosecutor’s office, Liam died of multiple traumas and internal and external bleeding caused by a fall from a third-floor hotel balcony. An autopsy proved head injuries were sufficient to cause death.
The ongoing investigation has indicated he was alone at the time. Substances were seized from the pop star’s room, indicating alcohol and drug consumption.
Local authorities reportedly confirmed to PEOPLE that he “jumped from the balcony” of his hotel room before his death.
News outlet La Nacion was the first to break the tragic news after being informed by emergency services.
The Head of the Buenos Aires public emergency medical services Alberto Crescenti said the 31-year-old had fallen from a height of approximately 14 metres, and had suffered “very serious injuries incompatible with life.”
“At 17:04, local time, through 911, the integrated public security system, we were alerted about a person who was in an internal courtyard of the CasaSur hotel.”
“At 17:11, a team arrived and confirmed the man’s death. We later learned that he was the singer in a musical group. Unfortunately, he had injuries incompatible with life as a result of his fall, so we had to confirm his death. There was no possibility of resuscitation.”
Speaking with TMZ, witnesses have claimed that the singer had been acting erratically in the hotel lobby earlier in the day.
Police have not yet confirmed a cause of death.
Liam is survived by his girlfriend Kate Cassidy, and son Bear Grey Payne.
Earlier this month Liam was spotted at the concert of fellow One Direction band member Niall Horan in Argentina where they reunited – much to the delight of fans.
He was only 16 years old when he catapulted to fame as a member of the biggest boyband in the world, after being discovered on the 2010 season of The X Factor.
One Direction ultimately disbanded in 2015, and Liam continued with a solo music career, releasing hits such as Strip That Down and Teardrops.
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