A CasaSur Palermo Hotel guest recalled hearing "a really loud, violent scream” before news of Liam Payne ’s death broke.
The patron, who remained unnamed, recalled hearing "a lot of noise” at the hotel, which sounded like "heavy lifting" or "banging."
"I thought it was construction,” the guest shared during an interview with People , published on Friday, October 18. “I thought they were working on the room.”
Us Weekly confirmed that Payne died at age 31 on Wednesday, October 16, following a fall from a third-floor balcony at the Argentina hotel. A preliminary autopsy revealed that the former One Direction member died from “internal and external” hemorrhages . However, police sources have told Us that it is unknown if he jumped or if the fall was accidental.
Following Payne’s death, the hotel guest recalled hearing sirens outside. After going “down the elevator,” the patron noticed that the "whole street was full of cop cars.”
Liam Payne Was ‘High on Drugs’ and ‘Trashing the Room’ Before Hotel Fall: 911 Call Details Revealed
Earlier on Wednesday, police responded to a call after 5 p.m. local time which reported there was an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol” at the hotel.
When first responders got to the scene, Payne’s injuries were too severe for treatment.
“Our role was to head there quickly, give medical attention, and try to resuscitate him, but his injuries were incompatible with life,” Alberto Crescenti , the Buenos Aires emergency services chief, said in a statement to La Nacion . “Based on what the team saw, there was apparently a cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death.”
A separate statement from the Buenos Aires prosecutor’s office on Thursday, October 17, revealed that police observed “total disorder” when entering Payne’s hotel room.
“Everything indicates that the musician was alone when the fall occurred, and was going through some kind of episode due to substance abuse,” the statement to Reuters read. “City police who surveyed the scene found substances inside the room that at first glance — and pending confirmation from the experts — would be narcotics and alcoholic beverages, as well as several destroyed objects and furniture.”
Former One Direction Singer Liam Payne’s Death at 31: Everything to Know So Far
The prosecutor’s office noted that there were “various elements broken” within the hotel room as well. Upon an inspection of the room’s balcony, a bottle of whiskey, a lighter and a phone was found as well.
Prior to his death, Payne had been candid about his struggles with substances.
“He was very, very open and frank about that. He spoke about his issues with drinking, with drugs and he was very proud of the fact recently that he was celebrating being 100 days clean,” TV host Richard Madeley said during a recent Good Morning Britain broadcast. “He was 100 days clean and he was very proud, that was a real achievement.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
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