The shock news of former One Direction star Liam Payne’s death has emerged exactly six years after his last visit to Australia.
The British singer, 31, reportedly fell from the third floor of a hotel in the Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires on Wednesday evening, according to TMZ.
Several witnesses told the publication that Mr Payne had fallen from his balcony at the CasaSur Palmero Hotel shortly after 5pm.
The devastating news comes almost six years to the day after Payne performed at Australia’s richest race day, The Everest, in Sydney on October 15, 2018.
Taking to the stage that day for an exclusive 45-minute concert, the popstar treated excited fans to a mix of his solo tracks and former One Direction’s greatest hits.
While on stage, he sung his own solo tracks Bedroom Floor and Strip That Down, while also revisiting his One Direction hits, History, Little Things and Drag Me Down.
The majority of the onlookers had their phones out trying to record a glimpse of the international artist, later posting parts of his performance on social media sites.
Despite the drizzly weather, the Strip That Down delivered a high-energy show as he danced with confidence in a white T-shirt.
The shock news of former One Direction star Liam Payne ‘s death has emerged six years after his last visit to Australia
In 2013, Payne and his One Direction bandmate Louis Tomlinson delighted fans once again as they spent time in Australia with the boy band.
The duo surprised excited fans as they went for a surf at Whale Beach in Sydney.
The guys were soon bombarded by screaming female fans as they began to exit the water.
Payne shot to fame in 2010 on XFactor with former bandmates Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson.
Payne performed at Australia’s richest race day, The Everest, in Sydney in October 2018
Payne was previously in a relationship with British pop sensation Cheryl Cole and the pair welcomed their son Bear Grey on March 22, 2017.
Local media reported on Wednesday evening, tha Payne had fallen from his room at the CasaSur Palmero Hotel shortly after 5pm on Wednesday.
Emergency services are believed to be present outside the hotel, where a red tent has been erected at the scene.
Investigations into the 31-year-old’s death are ongoing.
City ambulance service provider spokesman Alberto Crescenti said he had fallen around 40 metres and suffered ‘severe injuries which were incompatible with life.’
He said: ‘The alarm was raised at 5.04pm local time saying a person was lying in an internal patio at Casa Sur.
‘At 5.11pm an ambulance arrived and the man was certified dead.
‘Afterwards we found out he had been a famous singer. Unfortunately the injuries he had suffered as a result of the fall proved to be fatal. There was no possibility of resuscitating him.’
Taking the stage for an exclusive 45-minute concert, the popstar treated excited fans to a mix of his solo tracks and former One Direction’s greatest hits
The Night Changes singer had recently been spotted attending his former bandmate Niall Horan’s concert in the country earlier this month.
He had initially auditioned for X Factor in 2008, when he was only 14, and impressed judges with his own version of Fly Me To The Moon by Frank Sinatra.
However Payne gave his singing career another go auditioning for the competition again in 2010, where he quickly shot to fame as part of One Direction.
He and his former bandmates Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson, were brought together by Simon Cowell and former judge Nicole Scherzinger who saw their potential as a group.
After just a few weeks of getting to know each other and non-stop rehearsing, the group impressed Simon at their Judge’s Houses audition and sailed through to the live shows.
The pop Svengali later admitted to Rolling Stone that it took him ‘about a millionth of a second’ to spot the group’s worldwide potential.
The fan reaction was instant too, with 1D hysteria soon dwarfing the show. Despite the adoration, the band ultimately finished in third place on the X Factor but shortly afterwards Cowell sealed their fate by signing the fivesome to a reported £2million Syco contract.
Keen to capitalise on the boys’ already devoted fanbase, Cowell moved quickly with recording for the band’s debut album beginning in January 2011.
By September of that year One Direction’s first single was released with What Makes You Beautiful soaring to number one on the UK Singles Chart, after becoming the most pre-ordered Sony Music Entertainment single in history.
Their debut album, Up All Night was also a best seller, becoming the UK’s fastest-selling debut album of 2011, with the record leading to their first tour which kicked off in the UK that December.
After Malik announced his departure from the band in 2015, the band went their separate ways.
During their time as a band, One Direction won five Brit Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, amassed over three billion YouTube views and sold 50 million records worldwide.
After releasing five albums with one of the biggest boybands of all time, Liam released his first solo album titled LP1 in 2019.
His singles Strip That Down co-written with Ed Sheeran climbed its way to number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that same year.
Over the course of his music career, the popstar collaborated with the likes of J Balvin, French Montana, Dixie D’Amelio and A Boogie Wit da Hoodie.
He was previously in a relationship with British pop sensation Cheryl Cole and the pair welcomed their son Bear Grey on March 22, 2017.
MailOnline has approached Liam Payne’s representatives for comment.
There has been an outpour of tributes online, with fellow former XFactor contestants Jedwad writing: ‘RIP Liam Payne. Condolences to his friends and family.’
They added: ‘ Sending strength to Cheryl and his son Bear, and all the One Direction family.’
Paris Hilton wrote: ‘So upsetting to hear the news of Liam Payne passing. Sending love and condolences to his family and loves ones. RIP my friend.
Stephen Bartlett penned: ‘I cannot believe what I’m reading about Liam Payne. Absolutely heartbreaking.’
MTV released the following tribute: ‘We’re deeply saddened to learn of Liam Payne’s tragic passing today. During this difficult time, our hearts remain with his family, loved one, and fans.’
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