BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — On Friday, the father of Liam Payne, a former member of the renowned boy band One Direction, arrived in Buenos Aires to facilitate the process of bringing his son’s remains back to England. This visit follows the tragic incident where the singer reportedly fell from a hotel balcony two days prior to his father’s arrival.
Geoff Payne was seen at Buenos Aires International Airport early in the morning, later pictured exiting a downtown hotel clad in a blue suit, accompanied by officials from the British consulate as he entered a black van. Argentine officials indicated that he was en route to the prosecutor’s office, a standard procedure in such cases, to manage the repatriation of Liam’s body. Reports from local news outlets mentioned that he subsequently visited the morgue.
This marks the first public sighting of any of Liam’s family members since his unexpected passing, which has elicited widespread sorrow from fans around the globe and prominent figures in the music industry. The news struck a particularly poignant chord in his home country, with the family expressing their devastation through a statement declaring that they are “heartbroken.”
“Liam will always remain in our hearts, and we will cherish the memories of his kind, funny, and brave spirit,” the family conveyed shortly after the tragedy. They appealed for understanding as they attempt to support each other during this challenging time and asked for privacy to grieve in peace.
Throughout his career, Liam frequently expressed his love and appreciation for his parents, who he described as diligent and encouraging. Both his mother, Karen, and father, Geoff, featured in “One Direction: This Is Us,” the 2013 documentary about the band’s journey.
In her appearance in the film, Liam’s mother conveyed her pride, stating, “When I see him on stage, I absolutely burst with pride, but we do miss him dearly.” As for the circumstances surrounding the singer’s final hours, details remain unclear. Reports from Argentine authorities state that he had likely consumed excessive amounts of drugs and alcohol before the incident.
Investigators noted that Payne’s hotel room was in disarray, with evidence of narcotics and alcoholic beverages scattered amid broken furniture and belongings. Questions linger regarding whether Liam’s fall was intentional or accidental. A preliminary autopsy confirmed that he sustained fatal injuries from the three-story fall, which resulted in “multiple trauma” along with “internal and external bleeding” affecting various parts of his body. However, toxicology report results are still forthcoming.
Authorities have indicated that there are no indications of foul play, citing the absence of defensive wounds on Liam’s body, which suggests that he did not attempt to guard himself against the fall. The prosecutor’s findings indicated that Payne may have been in a state of semi-consciousness or unconsciousness at the time of the incident.