Liam Payne, best known as a former member of the internationally acclaimed boy band One Direction, tragically passed away at the age of 31 after falling from a hotel window in Buenos Aires.
The incident occurred on Wednesday (16 October) at a hotel on Costa Rica Street in the Palermo neighbourhood, according to local police reports, as cited by CNN.
Authorities from the 14B Police Station responded to the scene in the afternoon following a distress call made to emergency services.
Payne had recently attended the concert of his former bandmate, Niall Horan, on 2 October in Argentina. His death comes as a shock to fans worldwide, as he had just celebrated his 31st birthday in the UK earlier this year.
Born in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, Payne was the youngest of three children. He studied music technology at the City of Wolverhampton College before rising to fame as part of One Direction, a group formed in 2010 during the UK edition of the reality competition show The X Factor. The band, which also included Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan, went on to achieve global success before announcing a hiatus in 2015.
In a 2015 interview, Payne reflected on his career with the band, stating, "I do love being on stage." He expressed particular pride in co-writing the track "What a Feeling" with fellow bandmate Louis Tomlinson, calling it a significant moment in his songwriting journey.
Following One Direction's break, Payne launched a solo career, releasing his debut album LP1 in 2019. Earlier this year, in March, he released the song "Teardrops."
Payne was also a devoted father to his son Bear, born in 2017, whom he shared with former Girls Aloud member Cheryl Cole. "He's growing up far too quickly," Payne remarked of his son. "He's far smarter than I think I'll ever be. He's a wonder."
The untimely death of Liam Payne has left fans and the music world in mourning as tributes pour in for the talented artist who touched the hearts of millions during his career.
