Liam Payne Reportedly Died After Trying to Escape Hotel via Balcony After Employees Forced Him Into Room

More grim details from Liam Payne‘s tragic death have surfaced, shedding light on his actions leading up to the incident and the events at the hotel.

TMZ obtained surveillance footage from the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, recorded just moments before the singer’s death. In the footage, Liam can be seen in the hotel lobby, reportedly causing a disturbance and acting “erratic.” Three hotel employees are shown escorting the 31-year-old back to his room.

Liam resisted as the staff attempted to return him to his room, as had a well-documented aversion to being confined in hotel rooms. In the past, Liam had shared how such experiences reminded him of the restrictions he faced during his One Direction days. The footage also shows a staff member using a master key to unlock his door and secure him inside.

TMZ reported that Liam had a history of escaping via balconies, including an incident in September where he allegedly used a garden hose to descend from a rental property in Florida.

During a 911 call from Argentina, hotel staff expressed concern about the potential danger posed by the balcony. One staffer reportedly told the operator, “I don’t know whether his life may be in danger. He is in a room with a balcony and, well, we’re a little afraid,” according to TMZ.

Despite these fears, Liam was left alone in his room. Sources later claimed the hotel prioritized addressing the disturbance in the lobby over ensuring Liam’s safety.

When Liam’s body was discovered, he was wearing a hat and carrying a bag, neither of which he had with him in the lobby footage. This supports the theory that he attempted to escape via the balcony with his belongings. Another bag containing pills, a bottle of Jack Daniel’s, and a note labeled “for Liam” was found on a second-floor balcony. It’s believed he dropped the bag while attempting to lower himself to the second floor, possibly aiming to reach the ground more safely.

The hotel declined to comment when contacted by TMZ.

Earlier this month, Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office No. 14 released the final toxicology report on Liam’s death.

According to the report, a translated version revealed Liam had alcohol, cocaine, and prescription antidepressants in his system within 72 hours of his fatal fall. However, authorities clarified that the toxicology tests only detected “traces of polydrug use” in his blood, urine, and vitreous humor.

The investigation ruled out suicide, stating Liam did not adopt a “reflex posture” to protect himself during the fall. Instead, it was determined he likely fell in a state of partial or total unconsciousness.

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