One Direction bandmates 'completely devastated' by Liam Payne's death
Payne died of multiple traumas and bleeding and an initial search suggested the fall came after substance abuse with alcohol and drugs, prosecutors said
Liam Payne's One Direction bandmates said in a joint statement on Thursday that they are "completely devastated" by the news of his death.
Payne, who shot to global fame with boy band One Direction, died at the age of 31 after falling from a third-floor hotel room balcony in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, triggering an outpouring of tributes from fans around the world from Britain to Buenos Aires.
The statement was signed by singers Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan.
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"In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly," Payne's former bandmates added.
They also said that the memories they shared with him would be treasured forever.
"For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam," the statement concluded.
Malik also posted on Instagram about the late singer, along with a photo of them dozing off next to each other.
"I lost a brother when you left us and can't explain to you what I'd give just to give you a hug one last time," he wrote.
Auditions for "Britain's Got Talent" in Blackpool, England, were postponed on Thursday "due to the tragic passing of Liam Payne," Applause Store, the ticket provider for the show, said in an Instagram story.
Meanwhile, Argentine fans of Payne gathered on Thursday afternoon around the city's central obelisk monument to remember the troubled boy band icon.
He died of multiple traumas and bleeding, prosecutors said on Thursday, adding an initial search suggested the fall came after substance abuse with alcohol and drugs. His hotel room was found in "total disarray" with furniture smashed.
Outside the hotel where he was staying many fans gathered to hold a vigil overnight and on Thursday morning, leaving flowers and notes, and lighting candles that dripped wax that ran down the pavement as other fans stood close by in tears.
Authorities were first alerted on Wednesday afternoon about a guest staying at the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires' posh Palermo neighbourhood who was acting erratically.
"He is intoxicated, on drugs and alcohol," said the hotel receptionist, who identified himself as Esteban, in a 911 call shared with Reuters by the Buenos Aires security ministry, who confirmed that the call related to Payne.
"Come quickly," Esteban said. "We are a little afraid that he will do something that will put his life at risk," he added, mentioning the hotel room's balcony.
Minutes after the call Payne fell to his death at around 5:07pm local time (2007 GMT), according to a reconstruction of the incident by prosecutors.
Emergency services showed up at the hotel only minutes after to find that Payne had already fallen to his death from the third floor into the hotel's inner courtyard.
"There was nothing we could do," Alberto Crescenti, the head of Buenos Aires' SAME emergency services body, told local media. "His injuries were incompatible with life."
Police said they recovered a bottle of whiskey, a lighter and a cell phone from the courtyard where Payne fell, suggesting he may have been holding them at the time of his death. Payne's body was taken to the morgue for an autopsy later that evening.
