Liam Payne was likely unconscious when he fell to his death from hotel balcony: officials
Liam Payne was likely in a “state of semi or total unconsciousness” when he fell to his death, the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office in Argentina said in a statement obtained by Page Six Thursday.
“The prosecutor’s office indicated that, due to the position in which the body was left and the injuries from the fall, it is presumed that Payne did not adopt a reflex posture to protect himself and that he could have fallen while in a state of semi or total unconsciousness,” the local officials said.
On Wednesday, Payne was declared dead after falling from the third-story balcony of his CasaSur Palermo Hotel room, where he had been staying as a guest. He was 31.
He had reportedly been acting “erratically,” according to several eyewitnesses, and even smashed his laptop in the hotel lobby, prompting workers to escort him back up to his room.
It is believed he was likely under the influence of drugs and alcohol as several paraphernalia and booze were left behind in his destroyed hotel room, per photos obtained by Argentinian news outlet La Nación.
The hotel manager called 911 leading up to Payne’s death and could be heard in the harrowing call, released Thursday, saying he was in fear the singer would harm himself because of his state of mind.
“We have a guest who is [allegedly] high and drunk; and when he is conscious, he is destroying his room and we need you to send someone, please,” the man identified only as Estaban on the call says.
“We need you to send someone urgently because I don’t know if his life is in danger.”
When emergency personnel arrived, however, Payne had already fallen from the balcony of his room and died on the spot due to the severity of his injuries, per the prosecutor’s office.
Police do not suspect foul play as it is believed the “Night Changes” singer was alone when he fell. His girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, had left Argentina and flown back to the US two days prior.
However, investigators reportedly interviewed three hotel workers and two women had been with the musician in his room in the hours prior, but had already left when the incident occurred, per officials.
The National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office concluded that Payne’s official cause of death was due to “multiple trauma” and “internal and external hemorrhage” because of the fall.
Reps for Payne did not immediately return Page Six’s request for comment.
However, his family released a heartbreaking statement Thursday, saying in part, “Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.
“We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”
Payne rose to fame on the UK-based singing competition show “The X Factor,” where he and bandmates Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan formed the best-selling group One Direction.
