Liam Payne’s body was found in a hotel courtyard next to a lighter, a whiskey bottle and a mobile phone with Argentinian police now hypothesising he has was ‘going through some type of outbreak as a result of substance abuse’ prior to his death.
The 31-year-old star plunged 45ft from the third floor into the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel in Argentina’s capital yesterday, before medics confirmed his death.
The singer died from 25 injuries sustained in his fall that led to ‘internal and external haemorrhaging’, preliminary autopsy results have revealed with the ‘injuries to his head alone enough to cause death.’
Chillingly, medics announced that the singer ‘did not adopt a reflex posture’ during his fall suggesting he may have been fully or semi unconscious at the time of his death.
Last night, guests staying in the same hotel as Payne shared chilling recollections of the moments leading up to his death including hearing ‘violent noises’ and a ‘scream’.
Speaking to the BBC, fellow guest Doug Jones claimed: ‘I thought they were working on the room. There was a lot of noise, like heavy lifting, like banging, a lot of loud, violent noises, I thought.
Liam Payne ‘s body was found in a hotel courtyard next to a lighter, a whiskey bottle and a mobile phone
Liam Payne had been dropped by his record label Universal Music last week which came as a huge blow to the star, the Mail can reveal
Universal Music Group posted an image of Liam Payne on Instagram on Thursday night saying they were ‘devastated’ about his death
Payne plunged from the third floor into the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel (file image)
Payne had been staying in Argentina over the last weeks and was pictured engaging with fans
‘And I saw hotel people going in and out of that room, so I thought they were doing work on the room.
‘So about 4pm, 4.30pm, I started hearing some more noise, I was still doing work, and I heard a really loud, violent scream around 4.45pm, 5pm.’
The latest development comes as:
Yesterday, dramatic images of Payne’s hotel room surfaced following his death.
Payne was found dead by police who say they found the popstar’s medicines including clonazepam – a drug which is used to control epilepsy, involuntary muscle spasms and panic disorders.
The photos were published across the Argentinian media, including major broadsheets today and purport to show Payne’s suite at the Casa Sur hotel in Palermo.
There was a frantic call to 911 from hotel staff about ‘an aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol’ who was ‘smashing up his room’ minutes before he died.
These photos inside the luxury suite, published by Argentinian magazine Clarin, appeared to confirm the troubling report about Payne’s mental state.
On a table, the surface was covered with tin foil, white powder, a lighter and scorch marks on the wooden surface.
A blackened aluminium drinks can lid appeared to have been heated and a smashed TV screen on a shelf bore the signs of a heavy impact whilst a half-empty Champagne flute was nearby.
Police later confirmed that after a search of the popstar’s room medicines like clonazepam were found – a drug which is used to control epilepsy, involuntary muscle spasms and panic disorders.
The first pictures of Liam Payne’s trashed Buenos Aries hotel room have been published by Argentinian press showing a smashed TV screen
The photos of the deluxe suite show pieces of aluminium foil scattered on the desktop and traces of white powder
A burnt candle and more aluminium foil were found in a bath tub in the suite
Liam Payne’s body has been transferred to the judicial morgue to be examined
More candle and aluminum foil remains were found in the bathtub of Payne’s suite, the bottom of which was stained and had some burns.
In a tape of the 911 call from the hotel manager to police, he could be heard saying: ‘I’m calling from the Casa Sur hotel in Palermo, we have a guest who is over the top with drugs and is breaking up the entire room.
‘We need someone to come.’
The call then cuts off and on a second call, the manager adds ‘when he is conscious he is breaking up the room.
‘We need you to send someone, please’.
Payne suffered a huge blow just days before his tragic death – he was dropped by his record label Universal Music, the Mail can reveal.
Originally signed to Sony as part of One Direction, Liam penned a deal with Capitol Records, a label owned by Universal, in July 2016 when he launched his solo career at just 22 years old.
Liam was said to have been ‘thrilled’ when he signed to Capitol in what was understood to have been a very lucrative deal.
The label is a subsidiary of Universal, but in the company’s recent reshuffle he came under the main label.
The Universal Music Group tribute read: ‘We are devastated by the tragic passing of Liam Payne.
‘His legacy will live on through his music and the countless fans he inspired and who adored him.
‘We send our deepest condolences to Liam’s family and loved ones.’
Capitol Records reposted the statement as well.
Multiple sources have confirmed to MailOnline that the singer was axed by the record label.
A source said: ‘Liam’s advance was massive and he didn’t recoup [it].
‘Out of all of the One Direction boys, Liam was on the wrong path musically.’
It is understood that the release of his second album was put on hold prior to Universal dropping him.
Meanwhile, it can also be revealed that Liam’s PR resigned earlier this month, which left him without any publicity representation.
The resignation came as Liam’s ex-fiancé Maya Henry began legal proceedings against the singer after accusing him of repeatedly contacting her.
One source said: ‘It is like all of Liam’s music career that he had built up since he went solo eight years ago was crumbling, there was very little left for him.
‘It must have absolutely devastated him.’
Last night Payne’s One Direction bandmates broke their silence following his tragic death as they released an emotional statement.
Over the course of his music career, the popstar collaborated with the likes of J Balvin, French Montana, Dixie D’Amelio and A Boogie Wit da Hoodie
Liam Payne with his father Geoff and mother Karen after the X Factor final in London in 2010
As well as father Geoff and mother Karen, Payne had two sisters, Nicola (left) and Ruth (right)
(From left) Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan (seated) Liam Payne and Harry Styles in 2010
After Malik announced his departure from the band in 2015, the band went their separate ways
In a joint statement last night signed from ‘Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry’, they said they were ‘completely devastated’.
‘In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say,’ they said.
‘But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.
‘The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us.
‘We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.’
Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik all later released separate tributes.
Styles wrote on Instagram that he was ‘truly devastated’ and will ‘miss him always’.
‘His greatest joy was making other people happy and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it.
‘Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious.
‘He was warm, supportive and incredibly loving. The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend.
Louis Tomlinson said he was ‘really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye’ in a separate tribute to Payne
Zayn Malik said he had been talking out loud to Payne ‘hoping you can hear me’
Styles said Payne’s ‘greatest joy was making other people happy and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it’
Harry Styles wrote on Instagram that he was ‘truly devastated’ and will ‘miss him always’
‘My heart breaks for Karen, Geoff, Nicola and Ruth, his son Bear, and all those around the world who knew him and loved him, as I did.’
Tomlinson said in a separate emotional tribute that he was ‘really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye’.
He posted a picture on his Instagram page of the two of them on stage with Payne lovingly putting his arm over Tomlinson’s shoulder.
Tomlinson said he would be an uncle to Payne’s son Bear if he ‘ever needs me’ and ‘tell him stories of how amazing his dad was’.
‘I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours, reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life,’ he wrote.
‘I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be.
‘I wish I got chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you.
‘Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you mate. Sleep well X.’
Malik said he had been talking out loud to Payne ‘hoping you can hear me’.
In his own heart wrenching tribute, he said he had ‘lost a brother when you left us’.
‘And I can’t explain you you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly,’ he wrote.
‘I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever. There is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated. I hope that wherevere you are right now you are good and are at peace and you know how loved you are.
‘Love you bro.’
