Liam Payne hotel fall tragedy: Everything we know after One Direction star dies

Tributes have been pouring in after the shocking news that the former One Direction star has died

Tributes have been pouring in following the death of former One Direction singer Liam Payne at the age of just 31. He died after falling from the third floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

He rose to stardom aged 16 after forming boy band One Direction on The X Factor in 2010 alongside Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Harry Styles, having returned to the ITV show two years after his first audition.

It is believed that he was in South America to attend a Niall Horan concert and had posted a picture of them "reunited" and had stayed on in the country.

Here is everything we know:

Investigation is underway

According to Argentine police, the 31-year-old singer fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in the fashionable Palermo district, as confirmed by a statement from the local authorities on Wednesday.

Medics later confirmed his death. Alberto Crescenti, the head of the state emergency medical system, revealed on Argentina's Todo Noticias TV channel that the singer had fallen into a courtyard.

He added that an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death was underway and an autopsy was being conducted. In a statement, Crescenti said: "At 17.04 through the 911 integrated public safety system, we were alerted of a person who was in an internal courtyard of the management of a south house hotel.

"At 17.11 a SAME team arrived and verified the death of this man and later we found out that he was a singer in a musical group. 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.", reports the Mirror.

Local media has reported that police had been called to the hotel to an "an aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.".

Why Liam was in South America

Argentine media reported that Payne had been in Buenos Aires to attend a concert by his former One Direction bandmate, Niall Horan.

He was seen dancing to Horan’s songs in a video posted o social media, and also posted a series of videos singing with on-again, off-again girlfriend Kate Cassidy. Later that night, he posted a photo of himself with Horan via Snapchat, simply captioning it, “Reunited.”

Before that he had posted from the concert: “I think we might just go and say hello,” he said in a video. “It’s been a while since me and Niall have spoken. We’ve got a lot to talk about. And I would like to square up a couple of things with the boy. No bad vibes or anything like that. But just, we need to talk.”

Payne had been documenting his travels across the South American country, including seeing his former bandmate. He has been reported that he was also at a Paul McCartney concert.

Last moments revealed in social media posts

Liam's last social posts just minutes before his death saw him watching television and revealing his plans for his day. He filmed his girlfriend Kate Cassidy, 25, as they ate breakfast, revealing they had been staying at their friend's home.

He said: "Today, we ride. I think I'm going to be playing polo again, which is going to put me out of action for about six weeks.

"Honestly, polo, out of everything I've ever done sports-wise, not that I'm taking up polo professionally, by the way, I'm just like, I had a go for some fun.

"It's so hard to do, number one. Number two, my back and my neck from swinging that hammer around, or mallet, I think it's called, if you're in the know, it's polo language."

Fans sing One Direction songs outside hotel

Fans have gathered outside the hotel where Liam died. People started arriving as soon as the tragic news broke.

They were lighting candles, singing the band's songs and made an improvised altar for the fans.

Local journalist Judith Morales de Marco told BBC Breakfast: "The atmosphere was calm and respectful. People got there as soon as they got the news. The police were called at 5pm our time, and people started gathering from 7pm. The Palermo area is a tourist neighbourhood with bars and clubs. There were 100 people and they were very respectful of the situation."

Harry's mum and stars pay tribute

Harry Styles' mother Anne Twist posted a broken-hearted emoji on Instagram, captioning it: "Just a boy."

Dermot O'Leary has recalled Liam Payne auditioning for The X Factor as a 14-year-old boy, as he paid tribute to the singer.

The TV presenter, who hosted The X Factor during both of Payne's appearances, shared a photograph of the pair on stage, captioning the Instagram post: "The worst news".

"I remember him as a 14-year-old turning up to audition on The X Factor, and blowing us away singing Sinatra. He just loved to sing," he wrote. He was always a joy, had time for everyone, polite, grateful, and was always humble."

Singer Olly Murs, who starred on The X Factor a year before One Direction, said he was "lost for words", describing Payne's death as "devastating" on Instagram.

"We always had a good laugh when we saw each other, sometimes the catch ups were only short and sweet but when we did it was mostly about how annoyingly good his hair always looked, or our love for Becks, the old XF (X Factor) days and the tour we shared together," Murs wrote beside a picture of the pair.

"Liam shared the same passions as me, the same dreams so to see his life now end so young hits hard, I'm truly gutted and devastated for his family and of course his son Bear losing a dad."

The Wanted star Max George said he met Payne while he was competing on The X Factor with One Direction, describing his death as "absolutely devastating news"

"Over the last few years I had the pleasure of getting to know him personally and spent some treasured time with him," he said on Instagram. "Liam was absolutely wonderful in terms of support when Tom (Parker) fell ill, performing at the Royal Albert Hall with us for Stand Up To Cancer. He supported me a lot personally after Tom passed. I will never forget that."

Rylan Clark said Payne's death was "so tragic" on X, while fellow former X Factor contestants Jedward sent their love to Cheryl, his son Bear and "all the One Direction family".

Payne and Girls Aloud singer Cheryl share a son Bear, born in 2017, having been in a high-profile relationship between 2016 and 2018.