FORMER Liam Payne of One Direction has died in Argentina after apparently falling from his hotel balcony.

The 31-year-old singer was in Buenos Aires for friend Niall Horan’s tour when he tragically fell from the third floor on Wednesday afternoon, claims TMZ.

Former One Direction star Liam Payne has diedCredit: Getty

Liam had spoken to fans earlier on Snapchat WednesdayCredit: Unpixs

Crowds have gathered behind a police cordon outside the Buenos Aires hotelCredit: AP

Liam was a member of boy band One Direction between 2010 and 2016Credit: Alamy

Liam arriving for a movie premier in 2010Credit: PA

Singer Cheryl Cole and then-beau Liam

Liam’s last post was put up only minutes before his deathCredit: snapchat

Fans cry as they wait outside the hotelCredit: AFP

Cops are at the hotel investigating the death.Credit: AP.

A source confirmed to The Sun that Liam had died.

The singer-songwriter was staying at Hotel CasaSur in the Palermo neighborhood.

Crowds of devastated fans have gathered outside the hotel behind a barrier to pay tribute to the guitarist.

According to Pablo Policicchio, a representative for Buenos Aires’ security ministry, police were called to the hotel by a staffer reporting a “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol”.

According to witnesses at the hotel, Liam destroyed his laptop and had to be dragged back to his room earlier in the day.

When police got at the hotel about 5 p.m. local time (9 p.m. UK time), they discovered Liam deceased in the inner courtyard.

A red tent was placed over the body as cops began their investigation into the terrible death before it was transferred to the morgue.

According to a representative for the local emergency service, Liam died on the spot after falling and suffering serious injuries.

“There was no possibility of resuscitating him.”

Liam has received tributes from celebrities and fans, expressing their sadness.

Liam’s final Snapchat post, showing him and fiancée Kate Cassidy looking into a mirror, was made just minutes before his death.

He had posted earlier in the day about riding horses, playing polo, and looking forward to getting home to see his dog.

“It’s a lovely day here in Argentina.”

Kate posted a photo of Liam riding a horse with her in the countryside, just before his death.

The actor, who flew in Argentina with his girlfriend on September 30, was seen dancing and meeting fans at Niall’s event on October 2.

Liam joined One Direction at the age of 16, after auditioning on X-Factor and finishing third in the group.

He was with the group when it published its first album, Up All Night, in 2011, which went viral and won hearts all over the world.

He was one of the band’s key songwriters from 2010 to 2016, when the group disbanded.

Liam with One Direction in 2011Credit: PA

Liam in 2021Credit: Rex

He carried on with his own solo music career and released one solo album in 2019 – LP1.

The Sun revealed last week that Liam had parted ways with his management and had shelved plans for a second solo album.

And earlier this week Liam’s ex Maya Henry called in the lawyers after accusing Liam of repeatedly messaging her, her friends, and her mum.

The Wolverhampton-born singer was born August 29, 1993, and had early health battles and was bullied at secondary school.

He made his debut as a singer when he auditioned for X Factor in 2008.

An unearthed clip shows baby-faced Liam telling the cameras: “When I’m at school, in general, I think about singing all the time.

“I should really be concentrating on my school work but I just think about singing too much.”

Fans embrace outside the hotelCredit: Reuters

Liam sang as part of One Direction in 2010.Credit: Rex.

After being eliminated as a solo artist, he auditioned again in 2010 and was placed in a group with four other contestants to become One Direction.

Simon Cowell brought together Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Harry Styles to become one of the largest music acts ever.

Liam dated singer Cheryl Cole and had a child named Bear in 20.

After their breakup in 2018, he was rumored to be dating model Naomi Campbell in 2019.

He had a three-year romance with ex-fiancée Henry, which reportedly terminated in May 2022.

The musician had previously spoken candidly about his drug problems.

In 2021, he blamed a “pills and booze phase” for ballooning his face to “ten times the size,” while also adding that he used to swallow the contents of his minibar when band leaders checked the guys into hotels to keep admirers away.

In 2019, Liam shared on Ant Middleton And Liam Payne: Straight Talking that he grappled with suicide thoughts due to his stardom.

He said, “Given the circumstances, I consider myself fortunate to be alive.

“There are times when the level of loneliness and people coming into you every day makes you wonder, ‘When will this end?’ That has almost killed me a few times.”

He is survived by his seven-year-old son Bear, his parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, and two elder sisters, Ruth and Nicola.

Police will now conduct an autopsy on the body.

Liam in Paris in MarchCredit: Getty

Crowds have gathered outside the hotelCredit: AFP

Liam in an England kit for UNICEF’s Soccer Aid in 2022Credit: Rex

One Direction during the X-Factor live show in 2010Credit: Rex