Payne died in Argentina on October 16th
The surviving members of One Direction have released a statement about the sudden passing of Liam Payne on October 16th. Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, and Niall Horan shared a social media statement about their fallen bandmate.
“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing,” the statement reads. “In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly. The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you, Liam.”
Payne fell from his third-floor hotel room balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office No. 16 in Argentina says in its preliminary report that the English star appeared to be alone and under the influence of substances when he fell from his balcony just after 5 pm on Wednesday.
An autopsy notes that 25 injuries to Payne’s body were found, including the skull, abdomen, and limbs. Authorities found no defensive wounds to his hands and believe he may have fallen while partially or fully unconscious due to the position of his body. Investigators are still looking into the events surrounding his death, but have found no signs of third-party intervention.
Investigators also found substances in his room that appeared to be narcotics and alcoholic drinks. Experts are still awaiting toxicology results to determine what drugs may have played a role in Payne’s death.
One Direction rose to fame as a British-Irish boy band that captured the hearts of millions worldwide. The group, comprising Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik, gained massive popularity after forming on the reality TV show The X Factor in 2010. The group disbanded in 2016.
