Liam Payne death: Initial report shows cocaine in his system, says Argentine official
An initial toxicology report for ex-One Direction singer Liam Payne, who died last week after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, showed that he had cocaine in his system after his death, an Argentine official said.
A preliminary toxicology report for former One Direction singer Liam Payne, who died last week after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, indicated the presence of cocaine in his system, according to an Argentine official.
The final toxicology findings are expected to take several weeks. However, the initial report, shared with local prosecutors on Monday, showed signs of cocaine exposure. The official emphasized that these early results do not provide a clear measure of how much of the drug was present in Payne’s bloodstream at the time of his death. The official, who spoke anonymously as he was not authorized to brief the media, said the report had already been widely covered by local outlets.
Payne’s sudden death is under investigation by Argentina’s public prosecution office, which is standard procedure for unexpected fatalities.
An autopsy confirmed that the fatal injuries were consistent with a three-story fall from the hotel balcony, and prosecutors have ruled out the involvement of any other individuals.
Investigators found evidence of narcotics and alcohol amid broken furniture and other damaged objects in Payne’s hotel room, leading them to suspect he may have suffered a substance-induced breakdown around the time of his fall. The prosecution suggested that Payne may have fallen while in a state of “semi or total unconsciousness.”
Photos published by local media, reportedly taken inside the 31-year-old singer’s room, showed powder resembling cocaine on a table and a smashed television screen.
Police also found a blister pack of clonazepam, a central nervous system depressant, along with other over-the-counter medications scattered among his belongings. Just before the incident, the hotel manager had contacted emergency services, reporting a guest behaving aggressively and under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Authorities are now investigating who supplied the drugs Payne consumed at the CasaSur Hotel, located in the upscale Palermo district of Buenos Aires. Police have already interviewed three hotel employees and two women who visited Payne’s room hours before his death.
Payne's death has prompted an outpouring of grief from fans and figures in the music industry worldwide.
His father, Geoff Payne, remained in Buenos Aires on Monday, meeting with prosecutors and officials to arrange the repatriation of his son’s remains. Argentine authorities expect to release the body next week, enabling Geoff to return to England and plan a funeral.
Meanwhile, hundreds of devoted One Direction fans gathered in England on Sunday to mourn the late singer.
