Singer Liam Payne poses for photographers at the world premiere of the film “I am Bolt” in London, Britain, Nov. 28, 2016.
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) — Pop star Liam 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, Argentina, triggering an outpouring of tributes from fans around the world.
Before the fall, a hotel employee at the CasaSur hotel in the leafy neighborhood of Palermo called emergency services, asking for help with a guest who he said was trashing his room and appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, an audio obtained from the Buenos Aires security ministry showed.
Here is the full transcript of that call, translated by Reuters from the original Spanish. The Buenos Aires security ministry confirmed to Reuters that the call related to Payne.
911 call text
– Good afternoon, an emergency.
– Hello, good morning. I just called, I got disconnected. I’m calling from CasaSur Palermo hotel, Costa Rica 6032.
– What’s going on at the hotel, sir?
– Well, we have a guest who is intoxicated by drugs and alcohol. And, well, he’s … When he’s conscious, he breaks, he’s breaking the whole room. And, well, we need you to send someone, please.
– Under the influence of alcohol and drugs, right, sir?
– Yes, that’s correct.
– You told me Costa Rica, what number, sir? Excuse me.
– Costa Rica 6032.
– This is in the Capital (Buenos Aires), right? Between Arevalo and Cramer.
– Yes.
– Where is the hotel? What’s the name of the hotel?
– CasaSur Palermo. And we need you to send someone urgently because, well, I don’t know if the guest’s life is at risk. He is in a room with a balcony. And, well, we are a little afraid that he will do something that will put his life at risk.
– How long has he been there or is it a residential hotel?
– No, no, he has been here for two or three days.
– I understand. There is no information because they cannot enter any more?
– No.
– Should we notify the SAME (Sistema de Atención Médica de Emergencia) staff as well?
– Yes, what I ask you is that someone comes urgently because, well…
– In the call they’ve been notified (the SAME). Any more information to give to us? Who are you? The person in charge?
– I am the head of reception.
– Would you be the person in charge of the place, right?
– Yes, yes.
– It has already been noted. What is your name, sir?
– Esteban.
– It has been notified. Please wait for the police.
– Ok.
– Thank you for contacting us. You can release the line.
– Do they send the police too or not?
– The police of the commune, yes, give me a second to … Commune 14 and SAME?
– No, no, no. Only SAME. Only SAME.
– I understand. Don’t worry, that was notified anyway.
– Ok, perfect. Well, thank you very much.
– Since you tell me that he is under the influence of alcohol and drugs, SAME won’t come in alone.
– Doesn’t SAME come in alone?
– No.
– Ok.
– It is still notified. When the police arrive, you explain to them and if it’s required the SAME presence, they will call them.
– Good, ok. Perfect.
– It has already been notified anyway. Have a nice day, sir.
– Good, thank you. Likewise.
Global success
One Direction found global success after Simon Cowell brought together Payne, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson on Britain’s X Factor talent show in 2010.
They went on to sell 70 million records, with six top 10 hits on Billboard’s Hot 100, including “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Story of My Life” and “Live While We’re Young.” Payne’s co-writing credits included “Story of My Life” and “Night Changes.”
The band announced an “indefinite hiatus” in 2016, leaving its members to pursue solo careers. Payne’s last single was “Teardrop,” released in March this year.
Payne’s family said they were “heartbroken.”
“Liam will live forever in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul,” they said in a statement.
While details surrounding his death remained unclear, Payne had spoken publicly about his struggles with mental health and using alcohol to cope with the pressures of fame.
“Doing a show to however many thousands of people, then being stuck by yourself in a country where you can’t go out anywhere — what else are you going to do? The minibar is always there,” he told the Guardian newspaper in 2019.
Very complicated
Fans who held a vigil in Argentina said they were shocked.
“I feel like it’s like a dream, like I’m going to sleep now and tomorrow it’s all going to be a lie…I think it’s going to take me a while to accept all this, it’s very complicated,” Micaela Ibertis told Reuters.
Violeta Antier said she had seen Payne recently at a Niall Horan concert: “He was there, I saw him. He was ok.”
Payne first auditioned for the X Factor in 2008 when he was 14, and was told by music mogul Cowell to return when he was older.
“I always knew that with confidence he would be a valuable member of this band, so I had no hesitation in bringing him back,” he said.
American singer-songwriter Charlie Puth, one of many pop stars Payne collaborated with during his career, said on Instagram: “I am in shock right now. Liam was always so kind to me.”
Payne teamed up with Rita Ora on the 2018 song “For You” and released his first studio album LP1 in 2019.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Payne’s One Direction and solo career helped garner a fortune of some $70 million.
He had a son named Bear with Girls Aloud singer and British TV personality Cheryl, seven years after she helped bestow fame on him when she was a judging panel member on The X Factor.
Last year, Payne published a video to fans on his YouTube channel in which he spoke about his family, making new art and performing again after having given up alcohol. He thanked supporters for sticking with him through difficult times.
Earlier on Wednesday, Payne posted on Snapchat about his trip in Argentina, talking about riding horses, playing polo, and looking forward to returning home.
“It’s a lovely day here in Argentina,” he said in the video.
