Liam Payne, former One Direction member, has died aged 31 in a hotel collapse in Argentina

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — The former One Direction singer liam payne, The 31-year-old, whose chart-topping British boy band inspired fans worldwide, was found dead after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, local officials said.

Buenos Aires police said in a statement that Pain suffered “extremely serious injuries” after falling from the third floor of the Casa Sur hotel in the Argentine capital's trendy Palermo neighborhood. Doctors confirmed his death on the spot, the statement said.

In a statement to The Associated Press, Pablo Polisiccio, director of communications for Buenos Aires' security ministry, said Payne “jumped from the balcony of his house.” Police rushed to the hotel after 5pm local time in response to an emergency call, he said, warning of an “aggressive person who may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol”.

A 911 call obtained by the AP to the hotel manager was heard saying they had “a guest who was high on drugs and alcohol … he was destroying the whole room and, well, we're going to have to send you somebody.” The manager's voice grew more concerned as the call continued, noting that the room had a balcony.

Alberto Crescenti, head of the state emergency medical system, told Argentina's Todo Notícias TV channel that authorities were investigating the circumstances of his death and conducting an autopsy.

Payne has been vocal about her struggles with alcoholism, posting a video on his YouTube channel in July 2023 where he stated that he had been sober for six months after receiving treatment. Penn representatives did not immediately return emails and calls.

Dozens of One Direction fans flocked to the Casa Sur Hotel from Buenos Aires after the news broke, forming lines on the cordoned-off street outside the hotel where police were sentinel. Forensic investigators were seen leaving the hotel, where Penn's body was removed about three hours after the fall. Outside the hotel, rows of candles and bouquets lined up as a makeshift memorial as young women filmed with their cellphones to express grief and heartbreak.

“I didn't think he would die so young,” Isabella Milesi, 21, told the AP.

Payne was one The five members of One Direction, which formed when they each auditioned for the British singing competition series “The X Factor” in 2010, two years after Penn's first attempt at the show. For the second time at 16, Payne sang a version of Michael Buble's “Cry Me a River,” appearing nervous at first but warming up to the audience's cheers and applause.

After each singer failed to make it through the competition as a solo act, Simon Cowell and his fellow judges assembled Payne, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson in what would become one of the most successful boy bands — even though they lost the competition.

Each member had their own personality, with Payne – who hails from Wolverhampton, a city in the West Midlands region of England – known to be responsible. The band became known for their pop sound and romantic hits such as “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Night Changes” and “Story of My Life.” Penn had featured solos on songs including “Stole My Heart” and “Change Your Ticket”, co-writing several of the band's hits. They had six top 10 hits on the Billboard charts in 2016 and a very loyal fan base, known as “Directors”, most of whom were teenagers.

“I've always liked One Direction since I was little,” said another fan, 18-year-old Juana Relho, outside Payne's hotel. “It's unbelievable to see that she's dead and the boys won't have another reunion, it kills me.”

With his meteoric rise to fame, Payne said it took some time to adjust to the public eye.

“I don't think you can ever deal with it, it's kind of crazy for us that people see this kind of mental state about us and what we do,” he said in a 2013 interview with the AP. Narrating an experience where a devotee was shocked after meeting him.

After the group's disbandment, Payne — like each of his previous bandmates — began a solo career, moving into EDM and hip-hop. His 2017 single “Strip That Down”, featuring Quavo, reached the Billboard Top 10 and stayed on the chart for several months. He threw it out An album “LP1” in 2019, and her last release – a single called “Teardrops” – was released in March.

Payne was one 7-year-old boy, Bear Gray Payne, with his ex-girlfriend, Musician Cheryl While performing with Girls Aloud who was known as Cheryl Cole. She was an “X Factor” judge during One Direction's season, though their relationship began years later. Payne was previously engaged to Maya Henry, from August 2020 to early 2022. Henry published a novel earlier this year that he said was based on their relationship.

In addition to her son, she is survived by her parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, and her two older sisters, Ruth and Nicola.

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Huamani reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press reporters Natacha Pisarenko and Deborah Ray contributed reporting from Buenos Aires, Argentina.