An initial toxicology report has revealed that former One Direction star Liam Payne had traces of cocaine in his system at the time of his tragic death, according to an Argentine official. The 31-year-old singer fell from a third-floor balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires last Wednesday.
While the preliminary report indicates exposure to cocaine, it does not provide a clear measure of how much of the drug was present in his bloodstream at the time of his death. A final, more detailed toxicology report is expected in the coming weeks, but for now, investigators are piecing together the events leading up to Payne’s fatal fall.
Argentine investigators discovered what appeared to be narcotics and alcohol in Payne’s hotel room, amidst broken furniture and scattered objects, suggesting a possible substance abuse-induced breakdown. Prosecutors surmised that Payne may have been in a state of “semi or total unconsciousness” when he fell from the balcony.
The singer sustained “extremely serious injuries” after landing in the hotel’s courtyard, according to police reports. Witnesses, including the hotel desk manager, had called emergency services shortly before Payne’s death, describing a guest who was highly intoxicated and damaging property in the room.
Payne, who rose to global fame with One Direction, had been open about his struggles with alcoholism. In a YouTube video posted in July 2023, he shared that he had been sober for six months following treatment.
His visit to Buenos Aires was to attend a concert by his former bandmate Niall Horan at the Movistar Arena earlier in the month. This trip, which should have been a joyful reunion with old friends, ended in tragedy, leaving fans and fellow bandmates in shock.
Following Payne’s death, his former bandmates Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik issued a joint statement expressing their devastation. Simon Cowell, who mentored One Direction during their rise to fame on The X Factor and signed them to his Syco label, also shared his sorrow, describing himself as “truly devastated” and feeling “empty.” Payne’s passing has left a deep emotional impact on those who worked closely with him during his rise to stardom.
Cheryl, Girls Aloud singer and Payne’s former partner, who shares a son with him, also spoke out after his death. She expressed heartbreak and condemned the “abhorrent” reports surrounding Payne’s passing.
Cheryl and Payne were in a relationship from 2016 to 2018, and they welcomed their son, Bear, in 2017. Their personal connection adds an even deeper layer of sorrow to the already tragic circumstances surrounding his death.
Payne’s family, in a joint statement, said they were “heartbroken” by his death, remembering him for his kind, funny, and brave soul. His father, Geoff Payne, flew to Argentina to arrange the return of his son’s body to the UK, which Argentine authorities expect to release next week.
The family, friends, and fans of Liam Payne continue to grieve as they await more answers about the events that led to his untimely death.
