Hotel guest recalls hearing 'loud, violent scream' before Liam Payne's fall from balcony

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA: It was an unexpected and tragic scene as former One Direction star Liam Payne fell to his death from the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

At only 31 years old, Liam left behind a legacy rich in music and kindness, yet his final moments were far from peaceful.

Guests mistook Liam Payne's disturbance for construction noise

Guests at the upscale hotel were initially unaware of the events unfolding in Liam Payne's room. One guest, who was staying just down the hall, dismissed the commotion, assuming it was construction noise. “I thought it was construction. I thought they were working on the room,” they told People.

However, the banging sounds and what they described as “heavy lifting” soon escalated into something more alarming. “I heard a really loud, violent scream,” the guest recalled.

It wasn't just the noise that caught attention; the same guest observed hotel staff hurrying “in and out” of Liam's room, creating even more commotion around 4:30 pm. The situation escalated rapidly, and within a short time, the police arrived shortly after 5 pm. Tragically, Liam was pronounced dead shortly after his fall.

Once the news of Liam's passing broke, more details about his final hours began to surface. Reports indicated that Liam may have been in a state of distress, which allegedly resulted in him “trashing” his hotel room.

Argentina's largest newspaper, Clarin, published images depicting a completely shattered television screen. Police in Buenos Aires described the room as being in “total disorder,” with “various items” broken and strewn about.

The guest who heard the commotion didn't grasp the seriousness of the situation until witnessing the aftermath. "I heard sirens," they recounted, initially dismissing them.

It wasn't until they got into the elevator and reached the ground floor that the gravity of the situation became clear. "The whole street was filled with cop cars," they revealed.

Authorities confirm Liam Payne's fall was not the result of foul play

Pablo Policicchio, representing the Buenos Aires Security Ministry, later confirmed the tragic news: Liam had “jumped from the balcony” of his hotel room. The injuries he sustained in the fall were devastating.

According to the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office, Liam suffered from “multiple injuries and ‘internal and external’ hemorrhages.”

The autopsy revealed 25 injuries, all “compatible with those caused by a fall from a height,” with the head injuries alone being sufficient to be fatal.

Despite the chaos surrounding Liam's sudden fall, authorities quickly ruled out foul play. They found “no defensive injuries,” indicating that no one else was involved in his tragic death.

However, they are still seeking answers, as a toxicology report is pending to provide insight into what may have been on Liam’s mind in his final hours.

As more details emerged, it became evident that Liam's behavior had raised concerns prior to his death. According to a translated 911 call shared by Sky News and the BBC, the hotel's chief receptionist was alarmed enough to reach out for assistance.

At the time, they were unaware of Liam's identity but were worried about a guest who appeared to be "under the influence of alcohol and drugs." The employee urgently requested authorities to come to the hotel, expressing concerns for Liam's safety.

The receptionist, identifying himself as “Esteban” during the call, expressed heightened concern because Liam was “in a room with a balcony.”

He pleaded, “We’re afraid he could do something that threatens his life,” and noted that Liam had been “trashing the entire room” before the situation escalated.

Liam's untimely death has undoubtedly left fans worldwide in shock. He is survived by his seven-year-old son, Bear Grey, whom he shares with his ex-partner, Cheryl Cole.