Inside Harry and Meghan’s new £6.3m beach bolthole in Portugal

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are understood to have splashed out on a new property around an hour’s drive south of Lisbon in Portugal

The stunning home has been created by an upmarket design firm (
Image: CostaTerra – Luxury Design and Architecture)

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have purchased a new holiday home in Portugal.

The property is close to where Prince Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack stays through the summer, around an hour’s drive south of Lisbon. The property at the exclusive CostaTerra Gold and Ocean Club was designed by Denton House – an upmarket architecture and interior design company. They claim to deliver the “world’s most glamorous residences and resort destinations”.

It sits on a stunning stretch of beach in the Algarve, and is said to be relatively untouched by tourism – making it a popular holiday destination for the rich and famous. After leaving royal duties back in 2020, the couple took their young children and moved into a £23.6 million mansion in Montecito, California. Living nearby are Ellen DeGeneres, Orlando Bloom, and Katy Perry.

The CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club is owned by multimillionaire property tycoon Mike Meldman, according to Express.co.uk. A co-founder of Casamigos tequila, along with George Clooney and Cindy Crawford’s husband Rande Gerber, Mike has been friends with Princess Eugenie’s husband Jack for years.

Multimillionaire property tycoon Mike Meldman owns the CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club ( 
Image:
CostaTerra – Luxury Design and Architecture)

Jack works in marketing, sales, and promotion for Mike’s Discovery Land Company, which specialises in building luxurious private golf and residential holiday communities across the globe.

The Discovery Land Company has been developing the highly sought after 722-acre beachfront plot in Comporta since 2019.

Once completed, the resort is set to have 300 homes, with prices starting at a whopping £3.6million.

Prince Harry and Meghan now live in California ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
Princess Eugenie, Jack, and their two children August, 3, and Ernest, 1, currently have a holiday property on-site, which boasts impressive views over the Atlantic.

It is thought buying a home in Portugal will allow the Sussexes to get their hands on a ‘Golden Visa’, giving them visa-free access to the European Union’s Schengen area.

Meghan and Harry spent £2.4million of taxpayers’ money on renovations to Frogmore Cottage before they left, according to official royal accounts. Renovations included the removal of a chimney, re-finishing the roof and adding new staircases. The Sussex couple also had new fireplaces put in and a new ‘floating’ wooden floor installed in the main kitchen area, in order to protect the old flooring underneath.

The Sovereign Grant, which pays for salaries of staff, upkeep of palaces and official royal duties, was used for the renovations, though Harry and Meghan paid privately for all fittings, fixtures and furnishings. After using the £2.4m, Harry and Meghan paid back the costs in September 2020, and Harry’s spokesman later confirmed he had paid the bill in full with his contribution to the grant.

Loose Women star Judi Love has announced she will be taking a break from social media amid the recent far-right riots across the UK after the Southport stabbing

Loose Women’s Judi Love has announced that she’s taking a break from social media in light of the recent rise of extreme right-wing riots that swept over 20 UK towns and cities. The unrest followed the Southport incident, where the tragic killings of Bebe King, Alice Dasilva Aguiar, and Elsie Dot Stancomb took place.

Before the announcement of Axel Rudakubana as the suspect, misinformation circulated that falsely linked the stabbing to Islam, resulting in mosques and accommodation for asylum seekers coming under attack. The turmoil saw crowds take to the streets, engaging in shop looting, setting vehicles alight, clashing with police, and dispensing death threats.

Among those speaking out against the mayhem was TV personality Judi Love, who urged her followers to unify and “come together” in response to the disturbance.

In a succession of posts, which also found their way onto her Instagram stories, Judi expressed her shock at the regression in community spirit: “Is this really the UK? YES! They’ve gone back in time.” Highlighting the dangerous impact of hostile propaganda, Love stressed the necessity of solidarity: “Unfortunately there’s been years of Propaganda Inciting hatred! Never has there been a time that we NEED 2 come together!”

Judi Love revealed she was stepping away from social media ( 
Image:
(Image: Instagram))

Commenting on the irony of the situation, she added: “What’s crazy half of these people rioting for the hatred of POC, loves a curry on a Friday night!” Judi made it clear that the main concern should be providing support for those directly affected by the violence: “What’s so sad is the focus of supporting a community and families that’s lost their babies in the most horrific way has been lost in this mess … We need to come together!”

She offered some advice for everyone, particularly those of colour, during such tumultuous times: “People of colour at this time need to protect their mental health. What people need to understand is black and brown people face racism most days, by people, directly, indirectly, passive aggressively, institutionally, systematically. And on social media.”

Judi Love joined the Loose Women panel in 2020 ( 
Image:
(Image: ITV))
Following her statement: “It’s exhausting,” the comedian announced: “Social media break for me! Stay safe. This is crazy times, protect your mental health at all costs. And remember, do not let them continue to divide us.”

Former Coronation Street actress Denise Welch has shared her experiences on mental health and panic attacks on ITV’s Loose Women as she described the terrifying feeling

Loose Women star Denise Welch has spoken openly regarding her experience of panic attacks and revealed she felt she was “dying”.

The ladies were back for another instalment on Wednesday (August 14) to discuss a range of topics. But during the show, presenter Kaye Adams asked Denise, Brenda Edwards and Frankie Bridge their opinion on disclosing the truth about their health.

The subject arose after a weather reporter in Australia openly shared he was having a panic attack live on air. In an extremely candid reveal, Nate Byrne from ABC News asked his co-host Lisa Millar to step in for him.

He told viewers at the time: “I’m actually going to need to stop for a second,” he said. “Some of you may know that I occasionally get affected by panic attacks and actually that is happening right now.” This then led Kaye to ask her Loose Women co-stars about their experiences and whether they would reveal all.

Denise Welch shared her panic attack experience ( 
Image:
ITV)

Denise who revealed she suffered from panic attacks shared her story and said: “Mine would come completely [unexpectedly] from nowhere. Not even thinking about anything and you would think that you were choking and dying.”

After hearing Denise’s story as well as Australian weather reporter, Nate, fans headed to X formerly known as Twitter to share their thoughts. One viewer said: “I can’t help thinking that having a panic attack on TV could possibly affect your TV career.”

Another said: “#loosewomen I think that the guy with the panic attack did the absolutely right thing by explaining what he was going through. Well done lad.”

The women spoke about opening up on their health
While a third also shared: “Panic attacks are horrific. Wouldn’t wish them on my worst enemy.”

Describing her panic attacks in more detail, Denise added: “My analogy is always you’re driving on the motorway and you nearly have a crash. And your heart is racing manically.

“You pull over to the side, you don’t have a crash and after a few minutes you’ve calmed down. It’s like that but it never goes away.

Storm Ashley: Exactly where 80mph weather bomb due to strike UK today

Gales are due to hit some areas, with the Met Office warning of a ‘danger to life’ while torrential rain is forecast to cause disruption as the government issues hundreds of flood warnings

The storm will be worst along Scotland’s west coast (
Image: PA)

Brits are bracing as terrifying 80mph gales are set to come crashing across the UK today.

The Met Office issued a rare “danger to life” warning yesterday in relation to Storm Ashley’s destructive winds that could lead to large coastal waves and loose beach material that pose a risk to human safety. Meanwhile, torrential rain is expected to cause widespread travel chaos, with the Environment Agency issuing hundreds of flood alerts.

The storm, which was named by Met Eireann as it’s expected to hit the Republic of Ireland first, will be most severe across Scotland’s west coast, which is where the howling 80mph gusts will be seen. There is also a “good chance” of power cuts in the area. The Met Office has issued an amber alert for the area from 9am today until 12am tomorrow morning.

The amber and yellow weather warnings
But there is also a yellow weather warning which started at 3am and covering a larger section of the British Isles. With this alert comes warnings about building damage, power cuts, injuries and danger to life as a result of the crushing winds.

Weather maps show the storm vortex moving across the Atlantic battering the west coast of Ireland and Northern Ireland before the tempest makes in presence felt in Britain. As the centre of the storm moves north and west, high winds will whip the UK with gusts of up to 80mph in Scotland while Wales is forecast to see gusts of up to 65 mph with similar windspeeds in north west England. The winds are set to get stronger throughout the day before dissipating on Monday.

Officials say there is a danger to life due to large tidal waves and beach material coming loose ( 
Image:
PA)
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Tony Wisson, said: “Storm Ashley will bring strong winds for most of the UK on Sunday before it clears on Monday, with a chance of some disruption across parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Northwest England and West Wales.

“A period of especially strong winds are expected on Sunday afternoon and evening in western Scotland, where gusts could potentially reach 70-80mph in exposed areas and an Amber warning for winds has been issued here. More generally 50-60 mph are possible in some inland areas in other parts of the warning area, especially Northern Ireland and western Scotland, and perhaps up to 60-70 mph along exposed coasts and hills. These strong winds in conjunction with high spring tides, may cause some disruption.”

Hundreds of flood warning have also been issued ( 
Image:
PA)
Further south, the Met Office has issued a yellow warning for the south-west of England and South Wales until midday on Sunday with a threat of disruption to travel with flooding and possible interruptions to power supplies.

Mr Stroud said strong, gale force winds are due to continue through to Monday morning meaning “fallen debris and trees” could impact commuters at the start of the week.

Road users in Scotland have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel where possible, while Sunday’s annual Great South Run in Portsmouth, Hampshire, has been cancelled because of weather-related safety concerns.

Met Office map shows Ashely hurtling towards the UK ( 
Image:
MET Office)Don’t Miss
Police Scotland have advised motorists to “plan ahead and avoid unnecessary travel where possible” ahead of the “strong likelihood” of disruption on roads, while Transport Scotland has warned of likely delays to public transport, including the country’s ferry network.

Chief Superintendent Hilary Sloan, Police Scotland’s head of road policing, said: “Make sure your vehicle has sufficient fuel and is completely roadworthy, with tyre pressure and tread meeting legal requirements.

“Ensure your mobile phone is fully charged in the event you need to call for assistance and if it is likely you may be within your vehicle for long periods of time, take additional clothing and water with you.”

The severity of the storm should ease by Monday ( 
Image:
Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Ferry operator CalMac said many of its services on the west coast of Scotland had been cancelled for the day on Sunday with several others liable to be disrupted.

The Met Office said Sunday will be a “widely windy day” with storm-force wins in the northwest.

Rain will spread eastwards ahead of sunny spells, but with gusty winds moving east during the afternoon.

Meteorologist Ellie Glaisyer said: “Parts of western Scotland could see gusts of 70-80mph during the afternoon. It will turn drier and brighter across much of England and Wales with some sunny spells during the afternoon.”

Winds could reach 70-80mph ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
Winds are expected to ease on Monday with rain moving into the south east. The north is expected to remaining blustery for much of the week.

The Environment Agency’s website listed 41 active flood warnings on Sunday morning, meaning flooding is expected, and 132 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible.

The warnings include multiple areas of the River Severn, the south Cornwall coast and the Wye Estuary.

Natural Resources Wales said there are three flood warnings and 13 flood alerts in place, while 16 flood warnings have been issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency along with 17 alerts.

Liam Payne’s mother tells friends of her heartbreak after One Direction star’s shock hotel fall death following ‘drug-induced episode’

Liam Payne’s heartbroken mother has told friends: ‘I’ve lost my beautiful boy.’

These were the only words nursery nurse Karen Payne could bring herself to say to loved ones who have been rallying around her in the wake of her son’s tragic and untimely death.

Payne fell to his death from the third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires on Wednesday in what prosecutors have described as a ‘drug-induced episode’.

Longstanding friends and celebrity hair stylists Royston Blythe and Nick Malenko were among the first to reach out to his heartbroken family, who live in his home city of Wolverhampton and include Karen, her husband Geoff, and their daughters, Nicola and Ruth.

Mr Malenko said: ‘I messaged his mum Karen. She’s finding it hard to speak about what’s happened, but she said ”I’ve lost my beautiful boy”.’

Liam Payne with his father Geoff and mother Karen after the X Factor final in London in 2010

As well as father Geoff and mother Karen, Payne had two sisters, Nicola (left) and Ruth (right)

Nine weeks ago, Liam Payne’s father Geoff posted a photo of his son and his dog as he penned in the caption: ‘#Like if you love my son!’ – a post which has since been flooded with tributes

Paying tribute to the singer, who was once a regular at the Royston Blythe hair salon in Compton, Wolverhampton, Mr Malenko continued: ‘He was a beautiful boy inside and out.

‘It’s absolutely shocking and devastating that such a young and talent life has gone. We are never going to see him again. There are so many tears here, how can we put how we feel into words?

‘We have sold the business now, but he’d been coming to the salon to get his hair done since he was a young lad. His mum still gets her hair done there.

‘When he was competing in X Factor we put up posters in the windows to get people to vote for him. Of course, after that he became a global phenomenon. We always saw him as a hero at the salon.

‘Even at 14 he was very eloquent. I knew he was going to be famous. That’s why I gave him his first proper set of hair straighteners. He had a lot of motivation and loved what he was doing. He was passionate about it.

‘We used to go with Karen to his concerts a the NEC and he would point us out in the audience and say I was his hairdresser which was a nice thing for him to do. Like me he came from humble beginnings. His story will be a massive inspiration to young people from here.

‘He supported The Way youth hub and he used to go to a local boxing club to train because he was bullied.’

Mr Blythe added: ‘We were doing Liam’s hair from when he was 14-years-old and at school. I used to organise charity shows and he used to appear for free.

‘His dad used to accompany him and set up his PA equipment and he would sing.

‘We took him to meet Dawn Ward from Real Housewives of Cheshire at Warford Hall when she did the charity Creme de la Creme Ball and he was asking her lots of questions. He be sorely missed by everybody.’

It comes as –

A purported final photograph of Payne at the the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires seems to show the former One Direction singer wearing a white sleeveless top with his tattoos visible

One of the singer’s final selfies in Buenos Aires was captioned: ‘Lovely day in Argentina’

Payne was spotted walking through a restaurant in Buenos Aires with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy in the days before his death, with a fan account posting the above clip on TikTok

Payne’s family put out a brief statement yesterday, saying: ‘We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.

‘We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.’

Payne’s uncle Roger Harris also told MailOnline yesterday afternoon: ‘We are all just deeply saddened and trying to come to terms with it. I just hope everybody gives them some privacy really and allows them to come to terms with it. That’s all I can say.’

The singer – who had been posing with fans in Buenos Aires in the hours before his death – suffered a fractured skull after falling from the third floor of Casa Sur Palmero Hotel in Argentina’s capital shortly after 5pm local time (9pm UK time) on Wednesday.

Another relative speaking at Payne’s family home in Wolverhampton – the city where he was born and grew up – told MailOnline: ‘We are utterly devastated by the news.’

Payne was raised in Wolverhampton by his mother Karen, a nurse, and father Geoff, a fitter. Early this morning, his older sisters, Nicola and Ruth, arrived at the house.

Nine weeks ago Geoff posted a sweet image of his son and his dog as he penned in the caption: ‘#Like if you love my son!’ – a post which has since been flooded with messages of condolence for their family.

Payne grew up on a road in Bushbury, Wolverhampton, before his big break with the X Factor.

While the family no longer live on the street, residents told yesterday how they still remembered the Paynes and spoke of their sadness.

Liam Payne plunged from the third floor into the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel (file image)

The singer fell from a suite at the Casa Sur Hotel with a balcony overlooking a swimming pool and an outdoor restaurant, and is thought to have landed in the spot circled above

The 31-year-old star plunged from the third floor into the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel

A fan in Argentina showed how she had taken a selfie with Liam Payne on October 1

One resident said: ‘My wife actually knew the family reasonably well when they lived here and she would always see them out and about when they lived here.

‘I can’t begin to imagine how his family are feeling at the moment as it must be so awful to get the news that your son has died.

‘People around here do remember the family and I think there’s just a feeling of shock at the moment.’

Another resident said he could remember seeing Payne and his sister playing in the street near the house.

He said: ‘It’s just awful to hear about Liam and to hear about a family losing a son.’

‘I remember seeing him playing outside the house and while I know they don’t live here anymore, I remember them being a nice family.’

One woman on the street said she remembered the family being very happy and said she did think that Payne had star quality.

She said: ‘I knew the family a bit when they lived here and they always seemed to be a very happy lot and I think we could all see the fire in him to be a star.

‘I’m just really sad to hear about Liam’s passing and it’s been just awful to hear about.’

Leah Wilshaw, 31, who lived in Bushbury at the same time as Payne, said: ‘When you think of Wolverhampton and artists, you think of the likes of Liam Payne – it’s quite sad.

‘He’s got a lot of friends and family here. A lot of people love the fact he’s from here. I thought it was fake news when I first saw it. It was completely unexpected.

‘I think anyone’s death is very sad, especially at the young age of 31 and he has a child that’s seven – he’s got to grow up without his dad. He’s too young to have gone. I just hope his family has some peace to grieve.’

It comes as a photograph of Payne seemingly returning to his hotel room in Buenos Aires emerged, and is reportedly the final image of the singer before he fell to his death.

The photo broadcast on local network America TV appears to show Payne wearing a white sleeveless top with his tattoos visible. A presenter said it was the last time the former One Direction singer was seen alive before he got in a lift to his room.

Alberto Crescenti, head of the city’s emergency services, revealed Payne had a ‘cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death’.

He also told TN television that Payne was dead when paramedics arrived at 5pm local time (9pm UK time), adding: ‘Our role was to head there quickly, give medical attention, and try to resuscitate him, but his injuries were incompatible with life.’

Payne’s identity was confirmed by emergency services by checking his passport, but police do not yet have conclusive evidence regarding the circumstances of his fall.

He also told TN television that Payne was dead when paramedics arrived at 5pm local time (9pm UK time), adding: ‘Our role was to head there quickly, give medical attention, and try to resuscitate him, but his injuries were incompatible with life.’

The singer fell from a third-floor suite with a balcony overlooking an interior pool and the hotel’s on-site Michelin-star restaurant where he landed in the courtyard.

Police in forensic suits were minutely examining the room and its balcony late last night after their colleagues below erected a red tent on the spot where Payne died.

The patio where he died is next to the swimming pool and is also the site for outdoor tables at the hotel’s plant-based Sarco restaurant. No diners were there at the time, because Sacro closes after lunch at 4pm before reopening for dinner at 7.30pm.

Liam Payne flew into a rage and smashed up his laptop after receiving mystery email – before plunging to his death from hotel balcony

Liam Payne received an email that caused him to fly into a rage and smash his laptop just minutes before he died, one of the last women who saw alive has claimed.

The tragic One Direction star opened the email and shouted ‘f*** this s**t mate!’ and broke his laptop, a young woman told MailOnline.

She was staying at at the same hotel as Liam, the Casa Sur hotel in Palermo, when she had what she called a ‘disturbing’ run in with the One Direction star – just minutes before he fell to his death from his balcony on the third floor.

In her compelling account, Rebecca, not her real name, said she had seen the pop star lying on sofa in the lobby reading through his emails, before becoming visibly upset and declaring: ‘I used to be in a boy band – that’s why I am so f***ed up’.

‘He opened his emails and saw one which obviously upset him,’ Rebecca, 28, exclusively told MailOnline. ‘Suddenly he took the computer, shouted “f**k this s**t mate!” and started bashing the computer on the ground.’

Liam Payne looks at his laptop in the Casa Sur Hotel lobby in Buenos Aires on Wednesday at 4.26pm local time (8.26pm UK time). The alarm was raised at 5.04pm following his fall

Liam Payne is then pictured next to a lift in the Casa Sur Hotel lobby at 4.28pm on Wednesday

A table surface covered with tin foil, white powder, a lighter and scorch marks on the wooden surface in Payne’s room

Liam Payne in the Casa Sur Hotel lobby in Buenos Aires just minutes before his death

Liam Payne shakes hands with a woman in the hotel lobby in Buenos Aires on Wednesday

The woman also took this picture at 5.40pm of the early emergency response outside the hotel

Less than half an hour later, ambulances and police had arrived, after the star had plunged 45ft from a balcony on the hotel’s courtyard.

It is unknown at present who had sent the email or what its contents were, however, it came amid a tough period for the popstar.

A mobile and laptop from his hotel room have been seized by police who are to  analyse the devices for clues.

Just two weeks ago, he was dropped by his record label Universal Music, putting an end to his plans for a second solo album.

And on Monday, his ex-finance Maya James, who claimed the star had ‘predicted he would die early’, started legal proceedings against Payne, accusing him of obsessively contacting her and ‘weaponising’ his fans against her.

It came after the 23-year-old Texan model had already served the singer cease and desist papers last week after accusing him of repeatedly contacting her and her family.

Guests staying at the luxury hotel in the Argentinian capital are still reeling from the tragedy, with many recalling the chilling moments before Payne’s death.

A picture of Payne’s hotel room was published by Argentinian press showing a smashed TV

Pieces of aluminium foil scattered on a desk and traces of white powder in Payne’s hotel room

A burnt candle and more aluminum foil are pictured in a bathtub in Payne’s suite at the hotel

Rebecca, an IT consultant from Washington DC, took haunting photographs of Payne in the lobby shortly before the terrible incident. She said his bizarre behaviour and its horrific aftermath had left her ‘shaken’.

The 28-year-old had a surprise 30-minute long encounter with Payne took place in the foyer of the hotel, where she was staying for a wedding. Payne had been due to check out on Wednesday morning, but still had not done so by late afternoon, she claimed.

Rebecca took her photos from 4.26pm local time (8.26pm UK time) – which is also when Payne made the ‘boy band’ comment. Just 36 minutes later, hotel staff raised the alarm at 5.04pm following Payne’s fall. An ambulance arrived at 5.11pm and Payne was then certified dead.

A drone view shows the balcony on the Casa Sur Hotel from where Payne fell to his death

She told MailOnline in an exclusive interview: ‘One of my friends was due to get his suite, so the hotel staff were a little on edge because he still hadn’t checked out at 4.30pm, but also because of his behaviour.

‘I came into the hotel, and he was waiting by the elevator, and it was so clear he wanted someone to recognise him, there was something a bit desperate about him.

‘I was with my friends and we did know who he was, but none of us were that bothered.

‘When the lift came he suddenly said to us without any prompting: ‘Yes, I’m Liam!’ really drawing it out, and then said ‘All right come on you lot, get in the elevator with me, I love a cuddle’.

‘I decided against it and waited for the next one, but some of the other girls got in with him and half way up, he started saying ‘Oh, you’re Americans, I live in West Palm Beach.

‘I know Americans. You guys are f***ing crazy! You guys are f***ing dangerous!

One of Liam Payne’s final selfies in Buenos Aires was captioned: ‘Lovely day in Argentina’

Payne said he was ‘happy to have some time away’ less than an hour before he fell to his death

Payne was seen contemplating a Forest Gump Halloween costume in a social media post

‘And then he grabs a girl who I think was with him and starts fake choking her, only lightly, but the others thought it was really disturbing.’

Rebecca said she returned to the lobby ten minutes later and shortly afterwards, Payne arrived back, dangling his open laptop nonchalantly from one corner.

He then began reading emails after flopping onto a sofa, wearing a white vest, cargo pants and trainers.

‘I have a blind relative and I realised he had the laptop on its accessibility setting, for some reason, so that each time he moved the mouse, hovering over something the machine spoke out loud to say where the cursor was,’ said Rebecca.

‘I assumed he was doing that for the attention too. Then he opened his emails and saw one which obviously upset him. Suddenly he took the computer, shouted ‘f**k this s**t mate!’ and started bashing the computer on the ground.

Everyone, especially the staff was really shocked. It’s a high-end hotel and his behaviour was so out of place – people were just chilling.

‘I went over, asked ‘are you OK?’ But he just kind of grunted. Then he said ‘I used to be in a boyband. That’s why I’m so f**ked up.’

‘I couldn’t believe he’d just come out and said something like that. There was a lot more swearing and he took the laptop over and went to get back in the lift.

‘After he’d gone, the British guy from his entourage, who I think was called Roger, came over and apologised on his behalf, saying ‘I’m sorry, he just gets so high sometimes’.

‘I did wonder what these people with him were doing to help him, but maybe they had tried and failed. The hotel staff were freaking out and watching him really nervously. I could see one of them was on the phone to what I assumed was security or the police.

Payne plunged from a third floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires (file photo)

Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy posted a picture of the pair on her Instagram from last August

 A fan pays tribute to  Liam Payne in front of the hotel where he died in Buenos Aires yesterday

‘I’ve never taken cocaine, but he was behaving exactly as I’d imagine someone would on the drug – he wasn’t focusing, and his pupils were dilated, and he was behaving in aggressive way – though not to anyone in particular.’

Rebecca couldn’t work out why Payne was hanging around the lobby but wondered afterwards whether he was planning to meet someone to resupply his drugs.

Then after a few minutes, he returned to the lobby, she recalled.

Rebecca said: ‘He walked in again and just tripped and fell flat on his face, sprawling across the floor. The staff came to help him and get him back in the elevator, and that’s when I took the last photo.

‘You can just see the arm of the English guy who was with him, holding the lift door open before taking them up to the third floor again.

Police in the hotel reception area of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires after Liam Payne fell

Emergency services remove Liam Payne’s body from the Casa Sur Hotel on Wednesday

‘It wasn’t long after that when the police arrived and initially we thought they were just going to kick him out, but then when the staff started running around like crazy, we suddenly realised the seriousness of what had happened.

‘Some of my friends had seen him falling, it was awful, and at first they thought he might have just injured himself, but then we saw the body out in the courtyard, and later they brought him out on a stretcher, it was all so horrible.’

Rebecca said that after the horrific experience, she spent Wednesday night with friends away from the hotel, partly because of what had happened, but also the noise of teenage fans outside in the street singing and crying.

She added: ‘They were playing his music all night and someone actually brought along a Ouija board to try and communicate with Liam, it was crazy.’

Payne, who rose to fame with One Direction on The X Factor, died after falling from a third floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel on Wednesday.

He died of multiple traumas and ‘internal and external haemorrhage’, a post-mortem examination report said.

Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office No 16 said it was investigating the incident as an ‘inconclusive death’ following the report.

Payne’s family said they were ‘heartbroken’, adding: ‘Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll 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 the ‘memories we shared with him will be treasured forever’.

Forensic police arrive at the hotel where Liam Payne died in Buenos Aires on Wednesday

In a separate statement, Styles said the years he spent with Payne ‘will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life.’

‘I will miss him always, my lovely friend,’ three-time Grammy winner Styles said in a statement on Instagram.

Payne’s ‘greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it’, Styles wrote.

‘Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious,’ he said. ‘He was warm, supportive, and incredibly loving. The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life.’

Styles said his ‘heart breaks’ for Payne’s family and his seven-year-old son Bear, who he shared with his former partner, Girls Aloud singer Cheryl.

Fellow One Direction star Louis Tomlinson vowed to be an uncle to Payne’s son in a separate Instagram statement.

Fans light candles as they pay tribute to Liam Payne at the Obelisco in Buenos Aires last night

A forensic worker inside the Casa Sur Hotel where Payne died in Buenos Aires on Wednesday

Fans of Liam Payne lit candles next to the hotel where he died in Buenos Aires on Wednesday

‘I want you to know that if Bear ever needs me I will be the uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was,’ the 32-year-old said.

Tomlinson said Payne was ‘the most vital part of One Direction’, describing his ‘perfect pitch, his stage presence, (and) his gift for writing’.

‘I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours, reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life,’ he said.

‘I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be.’

‘I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever, there is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated,’ the 31-year-old added.

Among those paying tribute was Camila Cabello, who rose to fame on the US version of The X Factor in 2012 after forming the girl group Fifth Harmony.

‘Thank you Liam for all the joy you brought my friends and I’ she wrote on Instagram. ‘It really made an impression on me as a young girl to meet a member of a group I loved and have him be so kind.

‘It’s a tragedy to have him gone way too soon.’

After Payne’s death, five witnesses were questioned in order to reconstruct what happened, the prosecutor’s office said.

Reports said staff at the hotel made two calls to emergency services with audio revealing a staff member had asked for assistance for a guest who was ‘intoxicated by drugs and alcohol’.

Police in the capital said the music star’s hotel room had been ‘in complete disarray’ with ‘various items broken’ – adding that a whiskey bottle, lighter and mobile phone had been retrieved from the internal hotel courtyard where Payne’s body was found.

One Direction fans mourned his death at a vigil outside the Argentine hotel where they lit candles and laid flowers.

The band toured across the globe and had five chart-topping albums, as well as four number one singles in the UK chart with tracks including What Makes You Beautiful and Little Things.

Payne, who was born in Wolverhampton, released his debut solo album LP1 in December 2019, which included the songs Polaroid and Strip That Down featuring Quavo.

One of his most famous songs, For You, was a collaboration between him and the singer Rita Ora for the film Fifty Shades Freed in 2018.

Hours after his death, Ora sang their song while an image of the pair was projected on to the screen behind her during a performance in Osaka, Japan.

Were you at the Casa Sur Hotel? Please email: [email protected]

Liam Payne’s girlfriend breaks her silence after death of her ‘angel’ One Direction star boyfriend

Liam Payne’s girlfriend has broken her silence after the tragic death of her ‘angel’ boyfriend earlier this week.

Kate Cassidy has taken to Instagram to express her heartbreak after the singer plunged 45ft to his death from a hotel balcony in Argentina on Wednesday, as she opened up to her followers ‘I have been at a complete loss’, ‘nothing feels real’.

The 25-year-old wrote that she will love her ‘angel’ ‘for the rest of her life’, adding in the tribute ‘444’ which is considered an angel number in numerology.

The couple had originally flew to Buenos Aires to watch his former bandmate Niall Horan’s concert on October 4, but he remained in the country after his girlfriend flew home on October 14.

It read: ‘Thank you for all of the kind words and love that has been sent my way. I have been at a complete loss. Nothing about the past few days have felt real. I ask and pray that you’ll give me the grace and space to navigate this in private.

‘Liam, my angel. You are everything. I want you to know I loved you unconditionally and completely. I will continue to love you for the rest of my life. I love you Liam.’

Kate Cassidy (right) and the singer originally flew to Buenos Aires to watch his former bandmate Niall Horan ‘s concert on October 4

Kate and Liam first started dating in October 2022, and made their red carpet debut at the Fashion Awards later that year

Kate and Liam first started dating in October 2022, and made their red carpet debut at the Fashion Awards later that year.

However, in May 2023, the couple sparked split rumours, with a source telling US Weekly: ‘Liam and Kate have broken up.’

The pair then put an end to split rumours by enjoying a date in London in June 2023, and later that year she supported him when he was rushed to hospital with a ‘serious kidney infection’.

The former One Direction star fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Palmero hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday.

Just days before his death, Kate shared a touching post, dedicated to the singer.

The blonde beauty took a snap of the popstar riding horseback in the countryside. Liam could be seen wearing a casual grey T-shirt as he sat on the horse and spoke to someone who appeared to be helping him.

Over the picture, Kate wrote: ‘I am very grateful for the simple things in life’.

Before the singer’s death, he had stared a final Snapchat post showed him happily posing with Kate as they looked into a mirror. A picture originally taken last August.

Just days before the shocking death, Kate shared a touching post, dedicated to the star where they went horseriding

The pair then put an end to split rumours by enjoying a date in London in June 2023, and later that year she supported him when he was rushed to hospital with a ‘serious kidney infection’

Liam Payne and Kate Cassidy watching the action on Centre Court Wimbledon Tennis Championships, Day 10, The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, UK – 12 Jul 2023

She had recently recounted on TikTok how the pair met in California and how their meeting almost never happened as she had desperately tried to get off work that evening.

She said: ‘I worked at this bar/lounge place called Ritual. Me and all my friends worked there, it was only my second week at work and I didn’t want to work every weekend.

‘They put me on schedule for week two and I really wanted to get off. I tried everything in my power to get off and nothing worked out.

‘On the way to work my manager texted me and was like ‘Liam Payne from One Direction is here, you’re going to be taking care of him tonight.’ ‘

Kate admitted she was ‘freaking out’ when she had to approach Liam’s table and ended up chickening out at first.

She said: ‘When I first approached him, I got nervous and stopped and turned around. I guess we made awkward eye contact for a second.

‘We talk about it because he said to [his friend] Conor, ‘Oh my God, did you see that girl walking over here? I’m not leaving this bar until I get her number.’

‘Then two minutes later I come back around. He was like, ‘is there anyway I can get a table inside?’ He’s literally sitting inside drinking Red Bulls and I didn’t think anything of it, I just thought he was overly friendly, I didn’t think he was flirting with me.’

In a TikTok video uploaded on September 20, Kate recounted how she and Liam met and how their relationship almost never happened at all

In her video, Kate told her followers how their meeting almost never happened as she had desperately tried to get off work that evening

Kate told how everytime she approached his table, Liam offered her to sit down with him and soon asked for her number.

She said: ‘Everytime I came to the table to check up on him, he’d be like sit down! I have family in London and I was like, ‘Oh I’m going to London to see my cousin’ and he was like, ‘I’d love to be your tour guide when you come.’ I was like, OK I’m picking up the sense that you’re flirting with me.

‘He asked for my number and I didn’t realise you had to put the +1 because I’m from America. I just my area code, the 201 and he tried texting me and it kept going green, not delivered.

‘He thought I’d put the wrong number in as in like, not interested. I was freaking out all night and then he realised I forgot to put the +1 and it went through.’

They suffered another mishap later that evening as Kate’s phone died when she went to bed and Liam thought she had blocked his number.

She recalled: ‘That night, I actually didn’t plug my phone in before bed so when I woke up in the morning it was dead. Once he finally got the number to go through, he thought I blocked him because it didn’t say delivered.

‘The next morning I texted him and was like so sorry for getting back to you so late, what time is your flight back to England? He was like, before I leave for the airport I can come see you for lunch.

‘We went for lunch which went really well and then went bowling and then went on a ghost tour, we basically had one of our first dates in a graveyard.

‘He extended his flight and then extended it again the next day so he ended up in Charleston for three days. That’s the story of how we met.

‘Literally, everything happens for a meeting. Don’t get off work because you want to go to a party because you never know, you could end up meeting your future husband.’

Liam Payne looks at his laptop in the Casa Sur Hotel lobby in Buenos Aires on Wednesday at 4.26pm local time (8.26pm UK time). The alarm was raised at 5.04pm following his fall

Liam Payne in the Casa Sur Hotel lobby in Buenos Aires just minutes before his death

A table surface covered with tin foil, white powder, a lighter and scorch marks on the wooden surface in Payne’s room

In the hours before his death Liam received an email that caused him to fly into a rage and smash his laptop while in the hotel lobby.

The tragic One Direction star opened the email and shouted ‘f*** this s**t mate!’ and broke his laptop, a young woman told MailOnline.

The singer was going through an increasingly difficult period, after it was revealed that just two weeks ago, he was dropped by his record label Universal Music, putting an end to his plans for a second solo album.

And on Monday, his ex-finance Maya James, who claimed the star had ‘predicted he would die early’, started legal proceedings against Payne, accusing him of obsessively contacting her and ‘weaponising’ his fans against her.

It came after the 23-year-old Texan model had already served the singer cease and desist papers last week after accusing him of repeatedly contacting her and her family.

Rebecca, not her real name, who was staying at the Casa Sur hotel in Palermo with Liam and told MailOnline that his bizarre behaviour at the hotel and its horrific aftermath had left her ‘shaken’.

The 28-year-old had a surprise 30-minute long encounter with Payne took place in the foyer of the hotel, where she was staying for a wedding. Payne had been due to check out on Wednesday morning, but still had not done so by late afternoon, she claimed.

Rebecca took her photos from 4.26pm local time (8.26pm UK time) – which is also when Payne made the ‘boy band’ comment. Just 36 minutes later, hotel staff raised the alarm at 5.04pm following Payne’s fall. An ambulance arrived at 5.11pm and Payne was then certified dead.

A drone view shows the balcony on the Casa Sur Hotel from where Payne fell to his death

She told MailOnline in an exclusive interview: ‘One of my friends was due to get his suite, so the hotel staff were a little on edge because he still hadn’t checked out at 4.30pm, but also because of his behaviour.

‘I came into the hotel, and he was waiting by the elevator, and it was so clear he wanted someone to recognise him, there was something a bit desperate about him.

‘I was with my friends and we did know who he was, but none of us were that bothered.

‘When the lift came he suddenly said to us without any prompting: ‘Yes, I’m Liam!’ really drawing it out, and then said ‘All right come on you lot, get in the elevator with me, I love a cuddle’.

‘I decided against it and waited for the next one, but some of the other girls got in with him and half way up, he started saying ‘Oh, you’re Americans, I live in West Palm Beach.

‘I know Americans. You guys are f***ing crazy! You guys are f***ing dangerous!

‘And then he grabs a girl who I think was with him and starts fake choking her, only lightly, but the others thought it was really disturbing.’

Rebecca said she returned to the lobby ten minutes later and shortly afterwards, Payne arrived back, dangling his open laptop nonchalantly from one corner.

He then began reading emails after flopping onto a sofa, wearing a white vest, cargo pants and trainers.

One of Liam Payne’s final selfies in Buenos Aires was captioned: ‘Lovely day in Argentina’

Payne said he was ‘happy to have some time away’ less than an hour before he fell to his death

Payne was seen contemplating a Forest Gump Halloween costume in a social media post

‘I have a blind relative and I realised he had the laptop on its accessibility setting, for some reason, so that each time he moved the mouse, hovering over something the machine spoke out loud to say where the cursor was,’ said Rebecca.

‘I assumed he was doing that for the attention too. Then he opened his emails and saw one which obviously upset him. Suddenly he took the computer, shouted ‘f**k this s**t mate!’ and started bashing the computer on the ground.

Everyone, especially the staff was really shocked. It’s a high-end hotel and his behaviour was so out of place – people were just chilling.

‘I went over, asked ‘are you OK?’ But he just kind of grunted. Then he said ‘I used to be in a boyband. That’s why I’m so f**ked up.’

‘I couldn’t believe he’d just come out and said something like that. There was a lot more swearing and he took the laptop over and went to get back in the lift.

‘After he’d gone, the British guy from his entourage, who I think was called Roger, came over and apologised on his behalf, saying ‘I’m sorry, he just gets so high sometimes’.

‘I did wonder what these people with him were doing to help him, but maybe they had tried and failed. The hotel staff were freaking out and watching him really nervously. I could see one of them was on the phone to what I assumed was security or the police.

Payne plunged from a third floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires (file photo)

Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy posted a picture of the pair on her Instagram from last August

 A fan pays tribute to  Liam Payne in front of the hotel where he died in Buenos Aires yesterday

‘I’ve never taken cocaine, but he was behaving exactly as I’d imagine someone would on the drug – he wasn’t focusing, and his pupils were dilated, and he was behaving in aggressive way – though not to anyone in particular.’

Rebecca couldn’t work out why Payne was hanging around the lobby but wondered afterwards whether he was planning to meet someone to resupply his drugs.

Then after a few minutes, he returned to the lobby, she recalled.

Rebecca said: ‘He walked in again and just tripped and fell flat on his face, sprawling across the floor. The staff came to help him and get him back in the elevator, and that’s when I took the last photo.

‘You can just see the arm of the English guy who was with him, holding the lift door open before taking them up to the third floor again.

‘It wasn’t long after that when the police arrived and initially we thought they were just going to kick him out, but then when the staff started running around like crazy, we suddenly realised the seriousness of what had happened.

‘Some of my friends had seen him falling, it was awful, and at first they thought he might have just injured himself, but then we saw the body out in the courtyard, and later they brought him out on a stretcher, it was all so horrible.’

Police in the hotel reception area of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires after Liam Payne fell

Emergency services remove Liam Payne’s body from the Casa Sur Hotel on Wednesday

He died of multiple traumas and ‘internal and external haemorrhage’, a post-mortem examination report said.

Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office No 16 said it was investigating the incident as an ‘inconclusive death’ following the report.

Payne’s family said they were ‘heartbroken’, adding: ‘Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll 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 the ‘memories we shared with him will be treasured forever’.

In a separate statement, Styles said the years he spent with Payne ‘will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life.’

‘I will miss him always, my lovely friend,’ three-time Grammy winner Styles said in a statement on Instagram.

Payne’s ‘greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it’, Styles wrote.

‘Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious,’ he said. ‘He was warm, supportive, and incredibly loving. The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life.’

Styles said his ‘heart breaks’ for Payne’s family and his seven-year-old son Bear, who he shared with his former partner, Girls Aloud singer Cheryl.

Fellow One Direction star Louis Tomlinson vowed to be an uncle to Payne’s son in a separate Instagram statement.

‘I want you to know that if Bear ever needs me I will be the uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was,’ the 32-year-old said.

Tomlinson said Payne was ‘the most vital part of One Direction’, describing his ‘perfect pitch, his stage presence, (and) his gift for writing’.

‘I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours, reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life,’ he said.

‘I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be.’

‘I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever, there is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated,’ the 31-year-old added.

Fans light candles as they pay tribute to Liam Payne at the Obelisco in Buenos Aires last night

A forensic worker inside the Casa Sur Hotel where Payne died in Buenos Aires on Wednesday

Fans of Liam Payne lit candles next to the hotel where he died in Buenos Aires on Wednesday

Among those paying tribute was Camila Cabello, who rose to fame on the US version of The X Factor in 2012 after forming the girl group Fifth Harmony.

‘Thank you Liam for all the joy you brought my friends and I’ she wrote on Instagram. ‘It really made an impression on me as a young girl to meet a member of a group I loved and have him be so kind.

‘It’s a tragedy to have him gone way too soon.’

After Payne’s death, five witnesses were questioned in order to reconstruct what happened, the prosecutor’s office said.

Reports said staff at the hotel made two calls to emergency services with audio revealing a staff member had asked for assistance for a guest who was ‘intoxicated by drugs and alcohol’.

Police in the capital said the music star’s hotel room had been ‘in complete disarray’ with ‘various items broken’ – adding that a whiskey bottle, lighter and mobile phone had been retrieved from the internal hotel courtyard where Payne’s body was found.

One Direction fans mourned his death at a vigil outside the Argentine hotel where they lit candles and laid flowers.

The band toured across the globe and had five chart-topping albums, as well as four number one singles in the UK chart with tracks including What Makes You Beautiful and Little Things.

Payne, who was born in Wolverhampton, released his debut solo album LP1 in December 2019, which included the songs Polaroid and Strip That Down featuring Quavo.

Poignant moment Liam Payne’s dad reads tributes outside of hotel where his son tragically fell to his death

THIS is the moment Liam Payne’s devastated dad reads tributes left to his son outside the hotel where he died in Argentina.

The singer’s loved ones made a desperate dash to South America late on Wednesday night just hours after his tragic passing.

8

A distraught Geoff Payne, Liam Payne’s dad, waves to fans outside the hotel in ArgentinaCredit: Reuters

8

Geoff bends down to read some of the tributes left to his son

8

Geoff looks down at the masses of flowers, cards and candles left out to honour his son LiamCredit: Getty

8

Liam Payne died aged 31 when he fell from his hotel balcony in Argentina
Footage taken outside the CasaSur hotel on Friday showed a sombre Geoff Payne bending down to read messages written to his son.

The distraught, bleary-eyed dad waved to Liam’s fans as he took in the touching display.

Dressed in a dark suit with his hands clasped in front of him, Geoff was shielded by police and security from dozens of fans and reporters.

One Direction star Liam, 31, fell to his death from the third floor of his hotel in Buenos Aires on Wednesday.

Champagne, prescription drugs, white powder and foil wraps were all found in Liam’s trashed hotel room after the fatal fall at around 5pm (9pm UK time).

Fellow hotel guests revealed the star had been acting in a “disturbing” manner shortly before his fall, with Liam admitting to one woman: “I used to be in a boy band – that’s why I’m so f**ked up.”

Liam’s family said after his passing: “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.

“We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space during this awful time.”

His parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, were seen leaving their home in the middle of the night on Wednesday.

They left “in a hurry” at around midnight as news of Liam’s death reached the family home in Wolverhampton.

On Thursday morning the downstairs curtains remained drawn at the four bedroom detached house in Codsall.

A family member who answered the door told reporters: “We’re obviously devastated at the news but we don’t want to comment.”

Neighbours said the couple left in a hurry while two women, believed to be Liam’s sisters Ruth and Nicola, were seen entering the property at 9am on Thursday.

One local resident, who did not want to be named, said: “They were seen leaving in a hurry at around midnight last night but I’m not sure if they had bags.

“You can’t imagine what they are going through. I know Liam liked to get back here when he could.

“They will be utterly heartbroken as they were very close.

“His home town always had a place in his heart. The community is going to be devastated. I think the sisters are there now, your heart goes out to them.”

Another neighbour said: “I think they left last night at around 12pm. The parents aren’t here. All I can say really is condolences to them.”

Fellow hotel guests revealed how Liam was acting in a “disturbing” manner shortly before his fall, with the star admitting to one woman: “I used to be in a boy band – that’s why I’m so f**ked up.”

Friends said the singer had been in a dark place in the past few weeks and turned to drink as he struggled with his career and other personal issues.

A source told The Sun exclusively: “His friends have been worried about him for weeks because he was struggling with his career and wanted to release some new music but he felt he wasn’t as good as his other bandmates, which they kept telling him just wasn’t true. He was just always so hard on himself.

“Then in recent weeks his drinking and suspected drug use started to worry his friends, they were actually planning an intervention, it was that bad.

“They were heartbroken seeing him this way – but just didn’t know how to go about staging a proper intervention.

“They’ve been worried sick about him, he’s just been in a bad place for the past few weeks. Lots of his friends had been telling him gently to get professional help or go to rehab but he just wouldn’t listen.

“The day of his death he was acting very off and erratically. One of his friends suggested to him again that he should get help but this just seemed to set him off more.

“Everyone is just distraught – their only comfort is that police have said he would have died instantly in the fall so he wouldn’t have suffered.”

8

Liam Payne with his parents Geoff and Karen

8

Liam died after falling from his third floor balcony at the CasaSur Hotel in Palermo, Argentina

8

Liam pictured with his One Direction bandmates

8

Tributes left outside the hotel in Buenos Aires

Speaking on The Diary of a CEO podcast in 2021, the former One Direction member opened up about his struggles with fame and how touring ‘really fu**ed him up.’

Payne said the worst part was getting ‘locked up’ in hotel rooms after performing, three years before he plunged to his death from a third floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.

‘My dad said it from day one – lonely hotel rooms, man – getting locked in that room is not fun when you’ve been exposed,’ the late singer said.

Payne also told podcast host Steven Barltett that he had a few ‘rock bottom moments’

Speaking on The Diary of a CEO podcast in 2021, the former One Direction member opened up about his struggles with fame and how touring ‘really fu**ed him up’

‘I was worried how far my rock bottom was going to be,’ he shared. ‘Where is rock bottom for me? You would have never seen it. I’m very good at hiding it. No one would have ever seen it.

Liam added: ‘Rock bottom… I mean, I don’t even know if I’ve hit it yet… I can make that choice now and quick my last moment as my rock bottom or I can make a new one.’

He opened up about a gig in Dubai where he was initially concerned that no one would show up but ended up breaking records in attendance and being compared to Michael Jackson.

‘I got back to my hotel room and i was sat in my room on a chair like this,’ Payne said, putting on a shocked expression.

Payne explained that he was in such a state of shock after the Dubai show that he cancelled a trip to the Maldives with his ex-girlfriend Cheryl Cole and their son Bear.

Describing what he felt at the time, he continued: ‘You know like in a movie where they throw a grenade and it goes [off] and then everyone’s like, “Oh, my God…”‘

One of Liam Payne’s final selfies in Buenos Aires was captioned: ‘Lovely day in Argentina’

(From left) Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne in 2010

Payne had been vocal about struggling with alcoholism, posting a video in July 2023 to his YouTube channel where he said he had been sober for six months after receiving treatment.

The star, whose chart-topping British boy band generated a global following of swooning fans, was found dead Wednesday after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, local officials said.

Buenos Aires police said Payne fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in the trendy Palermo neighborhood of Argentina’s capital, resulting in ‘extremely serious injuries.’ Medics confirmed his death on the spot, the statement said.

Police rushed to the hotel in response to an emergency call just after 5 p.m. local time warning of an ‘aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol,’ the statement added.

The hotel manager can be heard on a 911 call saying they had ‘a guest who is overwhelmed with drugs and alcohol … He’s destroying the entire room and, well, we need you to send someone, please.’

The manager’s voice became more anxious as the call went on, noting the room had a balcony.

Fans light candles as they pay tribute to Liam Payne at the Obelisco in Buenos Aires last night

Payne had a 7-year-old son, Bear Grey Payne, with his former girlfriend, the musician Cheryl who was known as Cheryl Cole when she performed with Girls Aloud.

She was an ‘X Factor’ judge during One Direction’s season, although their relationship began years later.

Payne was previously engaged to Maya Henry, from August 2020 to early 2022. Henry released a novel earlier this year that she said was based on their relationship.

In addition to his son, he is survived by his parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, and his two older sisters, Ruth and Nicola.

Liam Payne was ‘very upset’ & arguing with mystery woman in hotel lobby 3 hours before his tragic death, witness claims

TRAGIC Liam Payne was allegedly seen arguing with a mystery woman in the hotel lobby just three hours before his fatal fall, a guest has claimed.

Michael Fleischmann was also staying at the Casa Sur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires and claims he saw the One Direction star “very upset” as he argued about money in front of other guests.

10

One of the final posts of Liam Payne on SnapchatCredit: snapchat

10

He allegedly was involved in a heated argument with a woman in the CasaSur lobby, a guest claimed

10

Liam tragically fell from a third floor balcony at the hotel in Buenos Aires, ArgentinaCredit: AP

10

The American, who is based in Argentina, told local newspaper The Buenos Aires Herald what he saw unfold at the boutique hotel around 2pm local time.

According to Fleischmann, the Brit singer kept repeating: “I’ll give you US$20,000 dollars just because I can. I have US$55 million and I like to help people.”

Fleischmann said he didn’t realise it was Liam at first, but later recognised the star as the man he’d seen in the hotel lobby when news of his tragic death broke.

He described the 31-year-old as “a man with an English accent who seemed to be causing a disturbance”.

The guest claimed Liam “seemed very upset, agitated, a little wild, walking around and pacing,” as well as “very energised”.

---

It comes as…

---

Fleischmann’s mum, Toni, added the star was allegedly also yelling, saying he could help the woman.

He continued: “We don’t know what they were doing before that, but she looked very uncomfortable and he kept repeating that information.”

The Fleischmanns claimed the woman was probably a local as she was speaking Spanish and had a translator by her side, who was also trying to stop the alleged argument.

Troubling pics from Liam Payne’s hotel room show white powder after fall

10

This is understood to be the final photo of Liam

10

White powder and burnt aluminium foil was allegedly pictured inside Liam’s hotel roomCredit: Clarin

10

A smashed up TV and champagne glasses were also picturedCredit: Clarin

10

Aluminium foil was also seen in the bath of the hotel roomCredit: Clarin
Toni said: “It just looked like she was extremely uncomfortable with him, and a little apprehensive.”

The mum added the hotel lobby was almost empty at the time of the alleged altercation, saying:  “It was just my son, me, Liam Payne, the woman and the staff.

“The manager was trying to politely intervene or calm him down. There was a feeling of anxiety in the area.”

Although it was only verbal, the Fleischmanns were concerned that it might get more heated.

According to Michael, “the situation definitely felt very tense”.

After that, the mum and son went up to their room just as Liam allegedly got in an elevator.

Michael said: “He kind of pushed my arm out of the way. That’s the last I saw him.”

He then claims to have exited the elevator with his mum before seeing the mystery woman outside talking on the phone.

It comes as cops probing Liam’s tragic death have reportedly spoken with two key witnesses who may have been the last people to see him alive.

The ex-One Direction star died after tragically falling from his hotel balcony on Wednesday afternoon.

Argentina’s prosecutor’s office said two women who were allegedly with Liam the night before his death have now provided statements.

It is understood both women then left the Hotel CasaSur without him after waiting for the Brit in the lobby on Wednesday, Argentine outlet Infobae reports.

10

Police pictured outside the hotelCredit: AP

10

A fan stands in front of a makeshift memorial outside the hotel in the Palermo neighbourhood of the Argentine capitalCredit: AP
While police haven’t given any indication that they were involved in his death, the women could help determine what happened in the hours before.

There is no indication that the women could be involved in any way in the star’s fatal fall.

Liam was in Buenos Aires for his ex-bandmate Niall Horan’s tour when he died after falling from the third floor on Wednesday afternoon.

Emergency services chief Alberto Crescenti said initial findings point towards him fracturing his skull.

A final 911 call from hotel staff on Wednesday revealed they needed “urgent assistance” from cops to help with a guest “behaving erratically”.

Liam had shared a post on Snapchat only minutes before his death showing himself with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy looking into a mirror.

Tributes have poured in for the singer with celebrities and fans alike sharing their heartbreak.

One Direction statements in full

We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing. In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. 

But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.

The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us.

We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam. – Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry.

Louis Tomlinson wrote: “His experience from a young age, his perfect pitch, his stage presence, his gift for writing. The list goes on.

“Thank you for shaping us Liam.

“I want you to know that if Bear ever needs me I will be the Uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was.

“I wish I got a chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you.”

Zayn Malik said: “Liam I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me, I can’t help but think selfishly that there was so many more conversations for us to have in our lives.

“I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life.

“When I was missing home as a 17-year-old kid, you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know you were my friend and that I was loved.”

He added: “When it came to the music, Liam, you were the most qualified in every sense.

“I knew nothing in comparison, I was a novice child with no experience and you were already a professional.

“I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly.

“I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever”.

Harry Styles wrote: “I am truly devastated by Liam’s passing.

“His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it.

“Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious.

“He was warm, supportive, and incredibly loving.

“The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend.

“My heart breaks for Karen, Geoff, Nicola and Ruth, his son Bear, and all those around the world who knew and loved him, as I did.”

And Niall Horan wrote: “I’m absolutely devastated about the passing of my amazing friend, Liam. It just doesn’t feel real.

“Liam had an energy for life and a passion for work that was infectious. He was the brightest in every room and always made everyone feel happy and secure.

“All the laughs we had over the years, sometimes about the simplest of things, keep coming to mind through the sadness.

“We got to live out our wildest dreams together and I will cherish every moment we had forever. The bond and friendship we had doesn’t happen often in a lifetime.

“I feel so fortunate that I got to see him recently. I sadly didn’t know that after saying goodbye and hugging him that evening, I would be saying goodbye forever. It’s heartbreaking.

“My love and condolences go out to Geoff, Karen, Ruth, Nicola and of course his son Bear.”