Authorities in Argentina have announced that the toxicology report for Liam Payne is still pending. The former One Direction singer tragically died last week in Buenos Aires after falling from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur hotel.
Payne, 31, was reportedly in the city to attend a performance by his former bandmate Niall Horan just days before the fatal incident.
Alberto Crescenti, head of the state emergency medical system, confirmed that Payne had fallen approximately 40 meters, sustaining “severe injuries which were incompatible with life.” Crescenti detailed the response in a statement: “At 17:04, through the 911 integrated public safety system, we were alerted of a person in an internal courtyard at a south house hotel. At 17:11, a SAME team arrived and verified the death of this man, and later we learned he was a singer in a musical group.”
Crescenti added, “Unfortunately, he had injuries that were incompatible with life as a result of his fall, so we had to confirm his death. There was no possibility of resuscitation.”
Pablo Policicchio, spokesperson for the Buenos Aires security ministry, stated that police were called to the hotel shortly after Payne’s fall, responding to reports of an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”
An initial toxicology report, according to an Argentine official, found traces of cocaine in Payne’s system at the time of his death. However, Andrés Esteban Madrea, who spoke with Payne’s father, Geoff Payne, indicated that further toxicology and histopathological tests are still incomplete, preventing the release of the singer’s body to his family.
As reported by Sky News, a preliminary toxicology report has been provided to local prosecutors, but the results are not considered a full reflection of the drug levels in Payne’s system at the time of his death. The final toxicology results are expected to take several weeks to be completed.
In connection with Payne’s death, police are reportedly questioning five individuals who may have been involved in the events leading up to the incident.
Following the heartbreaking news, fans gathered outside the CasaSur hotel to mourn the singer. Tributes have also poured in from his former One Direction bandmates, who issued a joint statement expressing that they “will miss him terribly.” Payne’s family also paid tribute, with his sister Nicola calling him “her best friend,” and the family’s official statement expressing that they were “heartbroken” by his sudden passing.
