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An Argentinian journalist claims security video shows Liam Payne fainting moments before falling to his death from a third-floor hotel room in Argentina on October 16.
Paula Varela made the allegations during an appearance on Socios del Espectáculo, a program on the Buenos Aires-based TV station Canal 13.
“There is footage that is not being released to the media with the balcony scene where you see that Liam faints, and tragically because of where he is, falls from that balcony. If he had been beside his bed, he would have fallen on his bed,” Paula claimed on the show, according to The Mirror and GB News. “It’s not that he jumped deliberately. This footage is in the official case files.”
The new claim contradicts a police statement to The Associated Press on October 17 that said the former One Direction member “had jumped from the balcony of his room.”
Liam suffered “extremely serious injuries,” and medics confirmed his death on the spot at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Buenos Aires emergency services chief Alberto Crescenti confirmed that Liam’s injuries were “incompatible with life” and added, “According to the emergency medical team sent to the scene, [Liam] had a fracture in the base of his skull [and] extremely serious injuries,” which led to his immediate death.
“There was no possibility of resuscitating him,” he continued. “He had extremely severe injuries that were incompatible with life due to the fall.” Prosecutors also believed Liam may have been unconscious when he fell.
“No injuries were observed that would suggest the involvement of third parties,” a translated autopsy report obtained by Us Weekly in October 17 read. “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.”
Prior to Liam’s death, a hotel worker called 911 with concerns about a guest who they feared might fall from their hotel balcony.
The staffer said the unidentified guest “overindulged on drugs and alcohol,” adding, “When he is conscious, he breaks, he is breaking the whole room. Well, we need you to send someone, please.”
The employee stated that police were needed at the hotel “urgently,” expressing concern that the guest — who was not identified as Liam — was at risk. “The guest is in a room that has a balcony and, well, we are a little afraid that he might do something life-threatening,” the caller said.
Liam’s partial autopsy and toxicology report later revealed that the musician had “pink cocaine” — a recreational drug typically formed by mixing methamphetamine, ketamine and MDMA — along with cocaine, benzodiazepine and crack in his system, sources revealed to ABC News on October 21.
The “Strip That Down” singer had been open with fans about his struggles with drug and alcohol abuse. He completed a 100-day stay in a Louisiana treatment center in June 2023, telling fans he was six months sober in a YouTube video.
“I just kind of feel like I’ve got more of a grip on life and everything that was getting away from me … I just feel like I’ve got more of a handle on it,” Liam explained. “I just needed to take a little bit of time out for myself actually because I kind of became somebody who I didn’t really recognize anymore. And I’m sure you guys didn’t either. I was in bad shape up until that point and I was really happy to kind of put a stopper to life and work.”
English (US) ·