Liam Payne’s family issue statement following One Direction star’s death
Liam Payne’s family are “heartbroken” following the tragic passing of the former One Direction star on October 16th, they said in a new statement.
It emerged in Argentine media that Payne had been found in the courtyard of the CasaSur Palermo hotel in Buenos Aires after falling from his balcony. Payne was in Argentina on holiday for two weeks after flying out to watch his former One Direction bandmate, Niall Horan, perform at the Movistar Arena in Buenos Aires on October 2nd.
Following the show, Payne had stayed in Argentina with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, before she returned home to the United States on October 14th, which is when he checked into the CasaSur Palermo.
Alberto Crescenti, an Argentine emergency medical services director, revealed that the pop singer had suffered “serious injuries incompatible with life” following the fatal fall.
Crescenti told Argentina’s TN network that medical services had “no possibility of doing anything” to save Payne’s life. “According to what the team saw, he had a fracture at the base of the skull. Very serious injuries,” he said.
Providing more insight into the tragic incident, Crescenti said: “At 17.04 we were alerted through 911 about a person who was in the inner courtyard of the Casa Azul hotel. A few minutes later [an] emergency team arrived and confirmed the death of this man who we later learned was from a musical group.”
Argentine media has since aired a transcript of a 911 call to emergency services made shortly before Payne’s death. In the audio, the hotel manager at the CasaSur Palermo asks for help due to “an aggressive man who could be under the effects of drugs and alcohol.”
The hotel manager also told the emergency services operator, “We need to send someone with urgency because I don’t know if the guest’s life is in danger because he is in a room with balcony, and we are afraid he could do something that threatens life.”
Now, Payne’s family have said they are “heartbroken” in an official statement released through a spokesperson. They shared: “Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.”
The Payne family asked for privacy while they grieve, stating, “We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”
Tributes to Payne have poured in across the musical world from the likes of Liam Gallagher, Charlie Puth and Ty Dolla Sign.
Furthermore, Simon Cowell cancelled the scheduled recording of Britain’s Got Talent auditions in Blackpool which was set to take place on October 17th. At this stage, neither Cowell or Payne’s former One Direction bandmates have commented publicly on Payne’s passing.
Payne is survived by his son, Bear, who he shared with his former partner, Cheryl Tweedy.
Tributes to Liam Payne
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