Liam Payne, the former One Direction member, tragically lost his life on October 16th, 2024, at the age of 31.
According to preliminary autopsy results, Payne died from a combination of injuries sustained after falling from the third-floor balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Toxicology tests revealed that Payne had a mix of substances in his system, including cocaine, benzodiazepine, crack cocaine, pink cocaine (a combination of methamphetamine, ketamine, and MDMA), and prescription medications. Additionally, an improvised aluminum pipe for ingesting drugs was found in his hotel room.
The tragic incident occurred while Payne was in Buenos Aires to support his former bandmate, Niall Horan, during a concert.
Following his death, friends, family, and fans expressed their grief and shared heartfelt tributes on social media.
Payne’s former bandmates from One Direction shared heartfelt tributes in his memory. Harry Styles stated he was “truly devastated” by Payne’s passing and offered condolences to his family, including Payne’s 7-year-old son, Bear.
Zayn Malik also shared a personal tribute on Instagram, posting a photo of himself with Payne from their touring days. He expressed regret for not thanking Payne earlier for his support during challenging times, including when Malik struggled with homesickness at age 17. In his message, Malik wrote, “There are no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated. I hope that wherever you are right now you are at peace and know how loved you are.”
One Direction’s official Instagram account released a statement on behalf of the surviving members. “We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing,” the statement read. “In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.” The bandmates added that they would cherish their memories with Payne “forever,” and extended their thoughts to his family, friends, and fans.
Liam’s sister, Nicola Payne, shared a touching message on Instagram, writing, “I hope you have finally found peace up there and that you’ll continue to look after us all as you have done in life. We will make sure Bear knows about his daddy and how much you loved him, we promise this.”
Liam Payne is survived by his son, Bear, whom he shares with his ex-partner Cheryl Cole. A funeral is expected to take place in Britain in November.