Funeral arrangements for Liam Payne are set to take place next month while the investigation into his tragic death carries on. Grieving fans of One Direction have been paying respects with makeshift vigils after Payne passed away in Argentina, leaving them devastated.
The 31-year-old died following a tragic accident where he fell from the third floor of Buenos Aires’ CasaSur Hotel.
Authorities at Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office have dismissed foul play, suggesting the father-of-one may have fallen while in “semi or total unconsciousness”. Substances were found in his room, potentially playing a role in the fall.
His parents, Karen and Geoff, have travelled to Argentina to identify their son and make arrangements for his return. Payne’s body is expected to stay overseas as officials await toxicology results, which could take up to 15 days.
Reports allege that Payne had drugs, including crack cocaine and methamphetamine, in his system at the time of the accident. There is speculation he could have suffered a substance-induced breakdown, considering moments before his fall, there were reports of him acting aggressively in the hotel lobby.
The initial autopsy results showed that the cause of death was “multiple traumas” leading to “internal and external bleeding”.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office stated that the injuries from the fall were fatal, with the head injuries being sufficient to cause death, and the internal and external bleeding in the skull, chest, abdomen, and limbs contributing to the death mechanism, reports the Mirror.
The full autopsy report is pending. Liam’s death is currently classified as “inconclusive” as the investigation continues.
Authorities have been working to locate two women seen with the singer on the day of his death and have taken their statements. They are also interviewing hotel staff and attempting to identify the person who sold Liam the drugs, a process that may take several days.
However, as prosecutors do not suspect anyone else’s involvement in Liam’s death, the investigation might conclude within days. Nevertheless, Liam’s family may still face an inquest into his death in the UK.
Liam’s body will be returned to his family for repatriation to England, indicating that his funeral could potentially take place at the start of November.
The British Embassy is providing support to Liam’s bereaved family as they organise arrangements, and it is anticipated that the funeral will be held in the singer’s hometown of Wolverhampton.
It remains uncertain if there will be any official memorial arranged for fans to honour Liam, as the funeral will be a private event, attended by the singer’s immediate family and close friends.
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