A photo of Liam Payne heading up to his Argentina hotel room is believed to be the last time the One Direction alum was spotted alive before plunging to his death from a third-floor balcony, a new report says.
The 31-year-old singer was captured on surveillance cameras going into an elevator at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, local network America TV reported.
The chilling final image, which was aired by the outlet, showed Payne wearing a white sleeveless top with his arm tattoos visible.
Liam Payne was captured on surveillance cameras going into an elevator at a hotel in whats believed to be his final photo. America TV
It wasnt immediately clear when the snap was taken.
Sometime later, a hotel manager frantically called authorities to report that a guest whom he described as being under the influence of drugs and alcohol was destroying his room and putting his life at risk.
When hes conscious, hes breaking up the whole room. And, well, we need you to send someone, please, the manager said in an audio recording of the call.
https://www.americatv.com.ar/programas/lam/murio-liam-payne-caer-un-tercer-piso-n1363799
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 photo broadcast on local network America TV appears to show Payne wearing a white sleeveless top with his tattoos visible. A presenter said it was the last time the former One Direction singer was seen alive before he got in a lift to his room.
It comes as Alberto Crescenti, head of the cityâs emergency services, revealed Payne had a ‘cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death’.
He also told TN television that Payne was dead when paramedics arrived at 5pm local time (9pm UK time), adding: ‘Our role was to head there quickly, give medical attention, and try to resuscitate him, but his injuries were incompatible with life.’
Payne’s identity was confirmed by emergency services by checking his passport, but police do not yet have conclusive evidence regarding the circumstances of his fall.
The singer fell from a third-floor suite with a balcony overlooking an interior pool and the hotel’s on-site Michelin-star restaurant where he landed in the courtyard.
Police in forensic suits were minutely examining the room and its balcony late last night after their colleagues below erected a red tent on the spot where Payne died.
The patio where he died is next to the swimming pool and is also the site for outdoor tables at the hotel’s plant-based Sarco restaurant. No diners were there at the time, because Sacro closes after lunch at 4pm before reopening for dinner at 7.30pm.
When first responders rushed to the scene, they found Paynes body in the hotels inner courtyard.
Medical officials have since revealed he fractured his skull and died instantly from the fall.
Our role was to head there quickly, give medical attention, and try to resuscitate him, but his injuries were incompatible with life, Buenos Aires emergency services chief Alberto Crescenti said.
Fans of the singer were distraught over his death. JUAN IGNACIO RONCORONI/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
First responders found Paynes body in the hotels inner courtyard. Richard Young/Shutterstock
Firefighters work the scene at the Casa Sur as people gather after Paynes death on October 16, 2024, in Buenos Aires. Getty Images
Based on what the team saw, there was apparently a cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death.
He added: The team could do absolutely nothing. There was no resuscitation because it was confirmed that he had died. The whole body had very serious injuries.
The singers body has been sent for an autopsy, officials said.
