The star was pronounced dead after falling from a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina overnight.
He had recently been in Argentina to attend the concert of former bandmate Niall Horan, posting pictures together backstage and interacting with fans.
Local police said the singer fell from the third floor into the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel after he’d reportedly ‘been acting erratically in the lobby’ and ‘had to be carried back to his room’.
The hotel manager made two calls to the emergency services, with audio released of both.
In the first the manager is heard saying: ‘We have a guest who is destroying everything in his room. We need someone to come.’
He then phoned back repeating his request and warning: ‘I don’t know if the guest’s life is in danger.
‘The room has a balcony, and we are afraid he might do something.’
He added: ‘We need you to send someone urgently because 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.’
Payne was found dead at the hotel around 5pm local time (9pm UK time) when police arrived.
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Ambulance removes Liam Payne’s body while fans comfort each other outside hotel
Emergency services have taken the body of Liam Payne away from the hotel where he died in Argentina overnight.
A fire van was photographed leaving the area after authorities confirmed the death of the singer following a fall from a balcony.
It came after police cordoned off the road from traffic and sealed off the hotel entrance with tape, with investigators arriving around 7.40pm local time dressed in forensic suits.
Soon after hundreds of fans arrived, many in tears, with the crowd lighting candles around the hotel.
As Payne’s body was taken away, the mourners then began to clap, as reported by The Guardian.
The hotel then placed black boards in front of its windows, with the fans then dispersing.
Ant Middleton will ‘miss Liam Payne sorely’
Ant Middleton has shared a series of photos with Liam Payne when paying tribute to the star.
Ant, 44, shared photos of them filming the 2019 documentary Ant Middleton & Liam Payne: Straight Talking and wrote: ‘That was some sunset you captured there mate! A talented positive man with a good heart. I’m glad our friendship flourished and that I was someone you could confine in. Your turn to look over me now bro! Luv ya and will miss you sorely… My sincere condolences to Liam Payne family during these unimaginable times #restinpeacebrother.’
Lorraine Kelly has said she was ‘shocked’ learning the news of Liam Payne’s ‘tragic’ death.
Starting her ITV show speaking about the star’s death, Lorraine also spoke about Payne’s ‘struggles with fame’.
‘Absolutely awful news. I was genuinely shocked when I saw this. It was absolutely tragic,’ she said.
‘I must admit I can’t stop thinking about that wee boy as his mum Cheryl will have to break that news to him. He was only seven years old. He was always talking about his son. He was a very devoted dad. He may not have been with him all the time. but he was a very devoted dad.’
She went on: ‘Liam did have struggles with fame. That sort of fame is crazy. We can’t comprehend what that’s like.
‘They’d get to a hotel room in Japan and couldn’t get out the room – they’d have to draw the curtains as everyone wanted a piece on them.
‘How you deal with that level of fame…all of us would find it nearly impossible.’
Soccer Aid team-mate said Payne ‘loved being on a team’
Scarlette Douglas has spoken about working with Liam Payne on Soccer Aid.
Last year the I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! star participated in the charity event alongside Payne.
Appearing on GMB on Thursday, Scarlette shared her memories of meeting the musician.
‘He could have been struggling on Soccer Aid last year, but we wouldn’t have known because he was so happy and chatty,’ she said.
She went on: ‘I think that’s why he loved Soccer Aid so much – he loved being on a team and around people.’
Speaking about supporting UNICEF ahead of taking to the pitch, Liam said he was inspired by his son to take part.
‘It definitely changes things being a parent, everything gets put into perspective,’ he said.
‘It’s heart-breaking how many children there are all over the world living in poverty.’
Liam Payne’s second album was ‘completely on pause’ before his death
Liam Payne’s plans for his second solo album were reportedly put on pause in recent weeks.
After One Direction went on hiatus in 2015, Payne released his debut solo album LP1 in 2019.
He followed it up with the single Teardrops earlier this year and had spoken about working on another album.
However last week a source said plans for the release had halted.
‘Things are tough for Liam at the moment. His former manager Roger stepped back earlier this year,’ a source told The Sun.
‘He was a steady hand for Liam and he appears to be struggling without his guidance. Things have started to seem slightly erratic, with plans being made before they are cancelled last minute.’
They continued: ‘Liam had been doing really well on his second album but now it’s completely on pause. Liam is telling people now he has no idea if it’ll ever be released.’
Kate Garraway calls Liam Payne ‘humble and incredibly likeable’
Kate Garraway has spoken about her experiences meeting Liam Payne over the years.
The Good Morning Britain presenter spoke about the star during Thursday’s episode of the ITV breakfast programme.
‘He was down to earth, humble and incredibly likeable, as are all of the members of One Direction,’ she said when speaking to co-host Richard Madeley.
‘I’m also thinking about his family and Cheryl Cole having to tell their son what happened, especially after losing Sarah Harding.’
Liam Gallagher declares ‘life is precious’ after Liam Payne’s death
Liam Gallagher has said he is ‘very sad’ following the news of Liam Payne’s death.
The Oasis musician shared the following post on X: ‘Life is precious kids and you only get to do it ONCE go easy LG x’
He was quickly met with many comments asking if he was referencing the death of the former One Direction star.
After being asked ‘have you seen the news about Liam Payne?’, he replied: ‘I have, it’s very sad.’
Ant Middleton speaks of ‘tragic loss’
Ant Middleton has paid tribute to Liam Payne after discovering about his close friend’s death on live TV.
The former SAS: Who Dares Wins star appeared on Good Morning Britain on Thursday, where he spoke of the ‘tragic loss’ of the star.
Just a few hours earlier Ant had been appearing on The Morning Show in Australia when he was told of the devastating news.
Ant said he was ‘shocked and lost for words’.
‘What a tragic loss,’ he added.
Ant, who made the documentary Ant Middleton & Liam Payne: Straight Talking with the star in 2019, said he believed Liam ‘lacked a sense of belonging’ when One Direction disbanded.
‘There was always talk of getting the band back together and his face would light up,’ he said.
Speaking of Payne’s relationship with his son, whom he shares with Cheryl, Ant said: ‘I was privy to lots of photos of Bear and he was such a proud dad.’
‘Lovely day in Argentina’: Last video Liam Payne posted before his death
Just a few hours before his death, Payne shared a series of videos on social media.
Speaking about his plans while on holiday, he told followers it was a ‘lovely day in Argentina’ and that he planned to play polo.
However it appears the videos had been filmed a few days earlier as they included his girlfriend of two years, Kate Cassidy, who was in Florida at the time of his death.
Speaking in one video, Payne spoke about their plans.
‘Today, we ride. We’re going to ride some horses,’ he said.
‘Think I’m going to play polo again, which is going to put me out of action for about six weeks.
‘It’s so hard to do, number one, my back and my neck from swinging that hammer around… or mallet, I think it’s called if you’re in the know. It hurts a lot, it’s very tough to do’
In the video he also sent a message of support to those affected by Hurricane Milton.
‘It’s quite a scary thing to watch from far away and I hope everybody is ok,’ he said.