British musician Liam Payne, formerly of the band One Direction, has died at the age of 31 in Argentina, according to an announcement from the Buenos Aires police department.
“Liam James Payne, songwriter and guitarist, former member of One Direction, died today after falling from the third floor of a hotel” in the Palermo district of Buenos Aires, the police statement said.
Authorities were called to the CasaSur hotel at 17:04 local time (23:04 Cyprus time). An ambulance arrived seven minutes later, but paramedics could only confirm Payne’s death.
The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.
Newspapers La Nacion and Clarin report that police were called to the hotel following reports of a “troublemaker who was likely under the influence of drugs and alcohol”.
Payne rose to fame as a member of the pop group One Direction, alongside Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson.
The band gained popularity after finishing third in the British version of the music competition “X Factor” in 2010. One Direction disbanded in 2016, with members pursuing separate careers.
On October 2, Payne had attended a concert by his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan in Buenos Aires, according to Billboard magazine.
(information from amna.gr)
