The chilling details of the emergency services call made by hotel staff shortly before Liam Payne’s untimely death have been released. The head of reception at Casa Sur Palermo in Buenos Aires, Argentina, requested “urgent” help in the call, which came prior to the singer falling to his death from a balcony.
In the initial contact, the head of reception at Hotel Casa Sur informed a 911 operator: “We have a guest who’s off his head on drugs and is destroying everything in his room. We need someone to come.”
After the call died, he rang back, saying, “I don’t know if the guest’s life is in danger,” and reiterating to the female responder his request for the equivalent of the UK’s 999 service, the Mirror reports.
He said: “The room has a balcony and we are afraid he might do something.” Seconds later, the hotel employee, who identified himself only by his first name of Esteban, added: “Just send an ambulance, only an ambulance.”
The 911 operator started the traumatic second conversation, which lasted little over two minutes and was published to local media overnight, by saying: “Hello, where is the emergency?”
The hotel employee replied: “Hello, good afternoon. I called just now but the line went dead. I’m calling from the Casa Sur Palermo Hotel, address 6032, Costa Rica.” The conversation continued: 911 responder: “What happened there, sir?”
Hotel employee: “Well, we have a guest who is off his head on drugs and alcohol. And well, when he is conscious he is destroying everything in the room. And well, we need you to send someone, please.”
911: “Under the effects of alcohol and drugs, did you say sir?” Hotel employee: “Yes, correct.”911: “You told me Costa Rica. Sorry but what number, sir?” Hotel employee: “Costa Rica, 6032”
911: “That is Buenos Aires capital, between Arevalo and Kramer, right?” Hotel employee: “Yes.” 911: “Hotel, you said? What’s the hotel called?”
Hotel employee: “CasaSur Palermo. And we need you to send someone urgently because, well, I don’t know if the guest’s life is in danger. They must be in a room that has a balcony. And well, we’re a little bit worried he’ll do something, that he’ll put his life at risk.”
911: “How long has he been there? Or is it a residential hotel?” Hotel employee: “No, no. He’s been here two or three days.” 911: “Understood. And you wouldn’t know any other information because you can’t get into the room, no?” Hotel employee: “No.”
911: “We’ll notify the SAME medical response service, okay?” Hotel employee: “Yes, what I ask you is that you send someone urgently because, well…”
911: “Any other information you can give me. Who are you, the manager?” Hotel employee: “I am the head of reception.”
911: “You’d be in charge at the moment, right?” Hotel employee: “Yes.” 911: “What’s your name, sir?” Hotel employee: “Esteban.”
911: “Okay, this has been notified. Thank you for letting us know. You can hang up now.”
Hotel manager: “Are you sending the police as well or not?” 911: “The police for the area you’re in? Give me a second. Area 14.” Hotel manager: “No, just send the SAME medical response service.”
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