Liam Payne of One Direction Dies at 31 After Falling from Hotel Balcony in Argentina

Mar. 15, 2025

Liam Paynehas died after falling from a hotel balcony. He was 31 years old.

The formerOne Directionmember was pronounced dead after falling multiple stories at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday, Oct. 16, Policía Federal Argentina confirm to PEOPLE. Argentine news channelTNwas first to report the news.

An investigation is currently underway to determine the circumstances surrounding Payne’s death, local police told PEOPLE, adding that an autopsy will be conducted.

In a statement translated from Spanish, Alberto Crescenti (the head of SAME, Buenos Aires' public emergency medical services system) told TN that Payne fell into the hotel’s internal courtyard.

A SAME team arrived at the hotel and verified the death of the man, who was later identified as Payne, around 5:11 p.m. local time, Crescenti said, adding that the injuries the musician suffered were so severe that there “was no possibility of resuscitation.”

Liam Payne died on Oct. 16, 2024 at age 31.Gareth Cattermole/getty

Gareth Cattermole/getty

The British singer got his start in music onThe X-Factorin 2010, after the judges teamed him up with fellow solo contestantsHarry Styles,Zayn Malik,Niall HoranandLouis Tomlinsonto form One Direction. Though the group didn’t win the show, they still skyrocketed to superstardom and became one of the most prominent boy bands in history.

The pop-rock band released four highly successful studio albums and garnered a massive global fanbase — with Payne co-writing hits like “Midnight Memories,” “No Control,” “Steal My Girl” and “Night Changes” — before member Malik left the group in 2015.

Payne kickstarted his career as a solo singer-rapper in 2017 with hit track “Strip That Down” featuring Quavo, which has over 1 billion streams on Spotify. He released his first solo EP,First Time, in 2018, and his first and only studio album,LP1, the following year.

One Direction in London in December 2010.Dave Hogan/Getty

Dave Hogan/Getty

In his personal life, the One Direction alum datedX Factorjudge Cole — formerly of girl group Girls Aloud — beginning in late 2015, and welcomed son Bear in 2017. Sinceannouncing their split in July 2018, the exes have continued to co-parent Bear.

Payne previously told to PEOPLE that he"always wanted to be a young dad,“but it was no easy feat. During a later interview in December 2020, he opened up even he had “to learn” to be a parent over time.

“I had my son at a young age, and you think it will be a magical thing, that you’re going to grow up one day into the person you’re supposed to be,” the singer told PEOPLE at the time. “But it took a lot to find my footing. I figured, Dad takes care of everyone, that’s what he does, so my thing was to cook.”

Two years later after his split from Cheryl, the “Strip That Down” singer becameengaged to model Maya Henryin 2020 before the paircalled off their engagementthe following year. They later rekindled their relationship and got engaged a second time before ultimatelysplitting again in May 2022.

At the time of his death, Payne was datingKate Cassidy, with whom he was first spotted October 2022.

Liam Payne in London in November 2016.Mike Marsland/WireImage

Mike Marsland/WireImage

“There have been a lot of people in trouble with mental health that aren’t really getting the help that they need, and I think that’s a bit of a problem in our industry,” he continued. “It’s the same s— that happens to everyone, that’s been happening since the ‘70s. You know what the traps are and if you are lucky enough, like me, to be able to get out of that scenario and back into a sense of normality, then you know it’s a bit different.”

Liam Payne in Birmingham in October 2019.Katja Ogrin/Getty

Katja Ogrin/Getty

The star’s struggles with alcohol continued, however, and in July 2023 he revealed that was six months sober andhad spent almost 100 days in a rehab facility. “I just kind of feel like I’ve got more of a grip on life and everything that was getting away from me, I just feel like I’ve got more of a handle on it,” Payne said in aYouTube videotitled “I’m Back…”

“I just needed to take a little bit of time out for myself actually because I kind of became somebody who I didn’t really recognize anymore,” he continued. “And I’m sure you guys didn’t either. I was in bad shape up until that point and I was really happy to kind of put a stopper to life and work.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

source: people.com