Liam Payne was a former member of a popular British boy band, One Direction. ARCHIVE

Former One Direction member Liam Payne, 31, was found dead after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday (October 16), local officials confirmed. According to a statement from Buenos Aires police, Payne fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in the Palermo neighborhood of Argentina’s capital, sustaining "extremely serious injuries." Medics confirmed his death at the scene. Buenos Aires police reported that officers from the 14B Police Station rushed to the hotel on Wednesday afternoon following a 911 call about an aggressive man who was possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In a 911 call, the hotel manager can be heard saying they had "a guest who is overwhelmed with drugs and alcohol ... He’s destroying the entire room and, well, we need you to send someone, please." As the call continued, the manager's voice grew more anxious, mentioning that the room had a balcony. The authorities are still investigating the details of his death and carrying out an autopsy. Payne was best known as a member of the popular British boyband One Direction. The band, which also included Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan, was formed in 2010 after appearing on the UK version of the reality show "The X Factor." They were known for their romantic hits such as "What Makes You Beautiful," "Night Changes," and "Story of My Life." The band disbanded in 2016. After the group disbanded, Payne, like his former bandmates, launched a solo career, focusing on EDM and hip-hop. His 2017 single "Strip That Down," featuring Quavo, made it to the Billboard Top 10 and stayed on the charts for several months. He released an album called "LP1" in 2019, and his most recent single, "Teardrops," came out in March. Payne had a 7-year-old son named Bear Grey Payne with his former girlfriend, Cheryl Cole, who was also an "X Factor" judge during One Direction's season, although their relationship started years later. He was previously engaged to Maya Henry from August 2020 until early 2022. Along with his son, he is survived by his parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, and his two older sisters, Ruth and Nicola. FLE/Expat Media
For all the latest news from the UAE and the world, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube page