Liam Payne Believed to Be in ‘State of Semi or Total Unconsciousness’ at Time of Fall: Autopsy

Liam Payne was likely unconscious when he fell to his death at age 31.

Us Weekly confirmed on Wednesday, October 16, that the One Direction singer died after a fall from a Buenos Aires hotel’s third-floor balcony. A preliminary autopsy later revealed that Payne died from “internal and external” hemorrhages, but presumably not a result of any third party.

“No injuries were observed that would suggest the involvement of third parties,” the translated autopsy obtained by Us reads. “The prosecutor’s office indicated that, based on 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.”

It is also currently unknown whether Payne intentionally jumped from the ledge. Police sources had confirmed to Us on Thursday, October 17, that Payne fell, but “it is not known whether he jumped” or it was an accident.

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Payne sustained a cranial fracture and other serious injuries in the fall, which were too severe for treatment. Local first responders pronounced the musician dead on the scene.

“Our role was to head there quickly, give medical attention, and try to resuscitate him, but his injuries were incompatible with life,” Buenos Aires emergency services chief Alberto Crescenti said in a statement, per local Buenos Aires outlet La Nacion . “Based on what the team saw, there was apparently a cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death.”

Payne, one-fifth of popular boy band One Direction, is survived by his parents, Geoff and Karen , and his two older sisters, Ruth and Nicola .

“We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul,” Payne’s family told the BBC in a Thursday statement. “We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”

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Payne is also survived by his 7-year-old son , Bear Grey, whom he shared with Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole . The exes coparented Bear following their 2018 split.

“Time with Bear’s been really, really great,” Payne previously said in a July 2023 YouTube video . “More than anything, I want to say thank you to him and his mum for giving me a little bit of freedom to go and get well in that moment because I had to. There’s no point trying to be a dad when you’ve got nothing to teach and I don’t think up until this point I really had much to say to him other than just caring for him very deeply and loving him deeply, which is obviously the most important thing.”

Months prior, Payne had entered a treatment facility following mental health and sobriety struggles and confirmed in May 2023 that he was more than 100 days sober.