Tragedy Liam Payne will return to the UK today as the One Direction star’s body has finally been handed over to his family.
The news comes three weeks after Liam died at the age of 31 on October 16 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
An autopsy previously confirmed that Liam had suffered internal and external bleeding and multiple traumatic injuries as a result of the fall.
Last week, local police raided the Casa Sur Hotel where the fall occurred as they followed up on allegations that staff had sold drugs to the singer in the hours before his death.
Liam’s body had remained held in Argentina while local officials completed further post-mortem tests. He was handed over to his family on Wednesday, reported prosecutor Andrés Madrea. he told the BBC.
Liam Payne died at age 31 on October 16 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Liam Payne’s last Snapchat post before falling to his death from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires
Prosecutors have explored the theory that Liam was in “a state of semi or complete unconsciousness” during an apparently drug-fueled episode on the morning of his death.
The singer’s father, Geoff Payne, has been in the country where his son died for the past few weeks and was seen earlier this week paying tribute to his son and even joining mourners amid a sea of floral tributes.
Thousands of fans around the world gathered in the days and weeks after Liam’s death and many broke down in tears.
Speaking to MailOnline, a fan present at a vigil in London, Tyger Paige, 19, told his reaction to the tragic news: “I didn’t know what to do.
“We don’t know him in person, but we all grew up with him.”
The fan then broke down in tears and spoke of the band’s meaning to her: “It seems like we’ve all forgotten about One Direction.”
‘It seems we have failed. I wish they would all get together while he was alive.
‘They were everywhere. They were everything.’
Payne was on holiday in South America with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy (pictured left) when the tragic fall occurred.
A Change.org petition has been launched for a permanent memorial in Wolverhampton in honor of the late Liam Payne.
The news of the singer’s repatriation comes shortly after the Argentine press claimed that the necessary procedures for the singer’s body to return home had been completed.
Investigators initially warned Geoff Payne upon his arrival in Buenos Aires that it would be up to 15 days before all examinations were completed.
Liam had been in Argentina with his long-term girlfriend Kate Cassidy, leaving the couple’s vacation to return to the United States two days before his death.
The singer’s solo career emerged thanks to global stardom that began with ITV talent show The X Factor.
He was eventually put in a boy band with four other aspiring soloists in the training stage of the competition: the group that later became One Direction.
In 2012, the band won their first Brit Award for Best British Single for their debut song What Makes You Beautiful, before collecting the Brit Award for Global Hit a year later.
Liam rose to fame with the band One Direction. He is pictured with his bandmates (left-right) Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik.
Moving floral tributes were left outside the Casa Sur Hotel in the Argentine capital following the death of the former One Direction star
Fans have been paying their respects to the pop star at the hotel since his tragic death.
The members would eventually go their separate ways before Liam launched his solo career.
A young woman staying at the same hotel said the former One Direction singer told her minutes before he died: “I used to be in a boy band, that’s why I’m so screwed.”
Rebecca’s surprise encounter with Payne, lasting 30 minutes, took place in the lobby of the hotel, where she was staying for a wedding. Payne was due to leave Wednesday morning, but had not left by late afternoon, he said.
Following the star’s death, Payne’s family said they were “heartbroken”, adding: “Liam will live forever in our hearts and we will remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.”
A joint statement from his One Direction bandmates said they were “completely devastated” and will miss the singer “terribly,” adding that “the memories we shared with him will be treasured forever.”
