Liam Payne 'could have been saved' if ambulance was called earlier, source claims
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA: The tragic death of former One Direction member Liam Payne has left fans and loved ones reeling, and now there are claims that the tragedy might have been avoidable.
According to a source close to the situation, the singer "could have been saved" if only an ambulance had been called earlier on the day the 31-year-old fell to his death.
Timeline leading up to Liam Payne's death paints a troubling picture
Liam Payne died after falling from the third-floor balcony of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday, October 16.
The most detailed account of the singer's final hours comes from the Daily Mail, which spoke to a source who believes things could have gone differently. They claim that Payne collapsed earlier that day in the hotel lobby, but instead of immediately calling an ambulance he was brought back to his room alone, while still in a fragile state.
"Liam didn’t have to die. Liam didn’t want to die. He had promised us all he would never commit suicide. He was looking forward to the future," shared the insider.
They added, "If someone had called an ambulance when he collapsed in the hotel lobby instead of taking him back to his room and leaving him in there alone, in a psychotic state, he would still be with us."
The tragedy befell around 5 pm on Wednesday, with Payne reportedly dying instantly after the fall. The aftermath only raised more questions.
When the police searched his room, they found drugs, including a substance called "cristal," known for its potent hallucinogenic effects and the possibility of causing blackouts and psychotic episodes.
But the source questioned how Payne even got hold of the drugs, considering his financial situation. They wondered, "Where did Liam get the drugs when he had no money?"
Police have suggested that someone at the hotel might have been involved, with some sources claiming that an internal investigation at the hotel led to at least one staff member being fired.
Official investigators have kept things vague but have said that charges against those who supplied the drugs are likely coming soon.
Liam Payne's behavior started to spiral after he was left alone at Buenos Aires hotel
Liam Payne’s trip to Buenos Aires wasn’t supposed to be a long stay. He flew out to Argentina on September 30 with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, and close friend, Roger Nores. The plan was to catch up with his former bandmate Niall Horan — who was on tour there — and renew his US visa.
But things got complicated when Payne went to the US embassy and found out that officials had looked him up online.
They learned about his past stints in rehab for drug and alcohol issues, which led to a series of medical tests, including bloodwork, X-rays, and even psychiatric evaluations. What was supposed to be a quick trip ended up stretching into weeks.
After spending a few days at a polo farm outside of Buenos Aires, Cassidy flew back to Miami on Monday to care for their dog, leaving Payne alone at the CasaSur Hotel. It was during these last few days that the singer's behavior seemed to spiral.
He was reportedly struggling with money, his credit cards not working, which left him holed up in his hotel room most of the time.
A fellow guest, Bret Watson from Chicago, shared with ITV that he saw Payne several times in the lobby, sometimes lying on a sofa and playing on his computer. He described one incident where the singer seemed visibly frustrated, even smashing his laptop out of anger.
There were rumors that this outburst was triggered by a mysterious email, but no one seems to know exactly what set him off.
Watson’s account took a dark turn as he recalled Payne's final trip down to the lobby. He shared, "The final time he came back down, he actually passed out in the lobby of the hotel, looked like he was convulsing a little bit, and had to be physically taken back to his room."
Insider says narrative around Liam Payne's death has been skewed
The source, as well as others close to the situation, can’t wrap their heads around why no one called for medical help when Liam Payne was in such a vulnerable state.
"If Liam was convulsing, why didn’t the hotel call an ambulance immediately? That is what no one can understand. He never convulsed before. If he was that sick, why did someone take him back to his room and leave him there alone, with an open door to the balcony?" questioned the insider.
They further noted that the narrative around Payne's death has been skewed.
"The narrative so far has been wrong. People have been saying Liam relapsed on drugs and wanted to kill himself because his life was so bad. That wasn’t the case. He was in a good place. He was happy and making plans for the future with Kate, who he loved. Someone gave him drugs, and those drugs caused a psychotic event," further claimed the source.
It’s hard not to think about the "what ifs" in Payne's story. According to the source, "The tragedy is if someone had called an ambulance when he collapsed in the lobby and was convulsing, he would still be alive."
