Fans were left devastated after the shock news of former One Direction star Liam Payne’s death after he fell from a balcony in Argentina last week.
As the world struggles to come to terms with the huge loss, authorities and fans alike are left with a number of significant questions, including why the 31-year-old musician was left alone and without his bodyguard.
The One Direction star fell 49ft from a balcony in Buenos Aires, where he had been on holiday with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy.
Alberto Crescenti, head of the state emergency medical system, confirmed that the singer fell into an internal courtyard at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel. Speaking to Argentina’s Todo Noticias TV channel last week, Crescenti said: “A few minutes later [an] emergency team arrived and confirmed the death of this man who we later learned was from a musical group. He had injuries incompatible with life as a result of his fall. There was no way to do anything.”
But the Mirror reports on multiple questions that remain unanswered as the investigation continues in Argentina. These include how Liam fell and what he was reading before smashing his laptop.
1. Why was Liam Payne left alone in Argentina?
The singer jetted over to Buenos Aires in September with Ms Cassidy to attend his former bandmate Niall Horan’s concert in the Argentinian capital, and to renew his US visa while he was there. Father-of-one Liam was videoed greeting fans at Niall’s concert on October 2 and was later seen dancing and singing along to the music.
Liam had planned to fly back to Kate’s home state of Florida, but his visa application, which required him to leave the States and apply from another country, was initially refused because he admitted to having abused alcohol and drugs. This meant Payne was forced to undergo psychiatric and medical tests. The setback extended their trip by more than a week.
But Kate said on social media she flew back to Miami on October 12 while Liam stayed behind. On October 14, Kate confirmed she had left Liam alone.
Blogging online, heartbroken Kate said: “I was so ready to leave. Honestly love South America but I hate staying in one place for too long. And we were supposed to be there for, like, five days, turned into two weeks. I was just like, ‘I need to go home.'”
Liam died four days after Kate flew back to Miami. A friend told the New York Post she agonised over the decision. The friend reportedly said of her thought process at the time: “She can’t leave, or else who knows what will happen? And if she leaves, what will he do?”
2. Why wasn’t Liam’s bodyguard with him?
It is unknown why Liam’s bodyguard, Paul Higgins, didn’t go with the singer and Kate to Buenos Aires. A spokesperson for Liam’s family said Mr Higgins is “grieving and coming to terms with everything” himself.
But Mr Higgins, a heavily built 6ft bodyguard, usually travelled everywhere with Liam, who was born and raised in Wolverhampton, West Midlands. Mr Higgins acted as One Direction’s tour manager until 2014 and was known as the boyband’s “second dad”.
The star even attended Mr Higgins’s wedding, so fans have been left baffled as to why his bodyguard wasn’t with the singer in Argentina. The bodyguard has been praised by fans for flying out to Argentina with Liam’s father, Geoff Payne, to provide support as they bring Liam’s body home.
3. What was the email he read before smashing his laptop?
Liam received an email just minutes before he died that caused him to fly into a rage and smash his laptop. This is according to one of the last women who saw Liam alive in Buenos Aires.
After opening the email, he shouted, “F*** this s**t mate!” and smashed his computer on the ground, according to the young woman who was staying at the same hotel as Liam and was one of the last people to speak to him.
But it is unclear what the email concerned and what exactly it said. The witness did, though, say Liam was visibly upset at reading the email. He allegedly said, “I used to be in a boy band—that’s why I am so f***ed up.” Police have seized a mobile and laptop from his hotel room.
4. How did Liam fall?
At first, it was widely believed Liam jumped off his third-floor balcony, with some suggesting the singer was trying to reach the swimming pool below. The hotel staff denied him access due to his inebriated state.
But it has since been confirmed that he fell backwards, possibly after falling unconscious, sustaining multiple injuries on the back of his head and dying instantly.
The toxicology report read: “Due to the position in which the body was found and the injuries from the fall, it is presumed that Payne did not adopt a reflexive posture to protect himself and may have fallen in a state of semi or total unconsciousness.”
The autopsy further revealed that the singer was likely alone when the fall occurred and “he was going through some kind of breakdown as a result of substance abuse”. It does, therefore, remain unclear how exactly Liam fell.
5. When will the body be repatriated?
Liam’s father, Geoff, 66, flew out to Argentina last Friday to organise the repatriation of his son’s body, but we still do not know when he will return to the UK to be laid to rest.
The family’s initial application to bring Liam home has been delayed by the Argentinian prosecutor until further toxicology reports have been completed. An initial report has ruled he was exposed to various drugs, but it was stressed the initial results do not offer an accurate reading of how much was circulating in his body when he died.
A final analysis is believed to take between ten to 15 days from the point of death, but it can take longer. Investigators also trawl through mobile phone, computer, and security camera data, which “require longer analysis time”.
6. When is the funeral?
Liam’s family has not yet indicated when the funeral of the beloved singer will take place or how they wish members of the public to pay their respects.
One Direction sold more than 70 million records, and so Liam’s fans will undoubtedly wish to pay their respects as he embarks on his final journey.
But since the tragedy, we have seen vigils worldwide, including an informal service in George Square over the weekend where Scottish fans gathered to light candles, sing songs, and remember their idol.
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