Liam Payne’s Final Moments Captured In Security Footage, Journalist Reveals
By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on October 29, 2024 at 3:45 PM EDT
Newly surfaced security footage has reportedly shed light on the tragic death of former One Direction member Liam Payne, who died on October 16 after a fall from a third-story balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel.
According to Argentine journalist Paula Varela, the footage appears to show Payne fainting just moments before the fatal accident, suggesting he may have been unconscious when he fell.
Varela shared her account on Socios del Espectáculo, a program broadcast by Buenos Aires’ Canal 13, further explaining that the video supports preliminary findings from Liam Payne’s autopsy.
Security Footage Allegedly Shows Liam Payne Fainting Before Fatal Fall in Buenos Aires
Security footage reportedly reveals that Payne fainted before accidentally falling to his death on October 16, according to Argentinian journalist Paula Varela. Appearing on Socios del Espectáculo, a show on Buenos Aires’ Canal 13, Varela shared that CCTV footage captured Payne’s fatal fall as well as the moments leading up to the tragedy.
“There is footage that is not being released to the media with the balcony scene where you see that Liam faints, and tragically because of where he is, falls from that balcony. If he had been beside his bed, he would have fallen on his bed,” Varela said on the show, per The Mirror. “It’s not that he jumped deliberately. This footage is in the official case files.”
This revelation aligns with Argentine authorities’ ongoing investigation, which has been examining whether Payne’s fall was an accident or the result of external factors. The footage is now reportedly in the possession of local officials, though they have yet to release any official statements regarding its contents.
Autopsy Stated Liam Payne Likely 'Fell In A State Of Semi Or Total Unconsciousness'
Varela’s account aligns with findings from Payne’s preliminary autopsy, which suggested that he “may have fallen in a state of semi or total unconsciousness.”
The autopsy indicated that the position of the 31-year-old’s body and the nature of his injuries implied he “did not adopt a reflexive posture to protect himself” during the fall, supporting the theory that he was unconscious when the incident occurred.
“Based on what the team saw, there was apparently a cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death,” Buenos Aries emergency services chief Alberto Crescenti said. “The team could do absolutely nothing. There was no resuscitation because it was confirmed that he had died.”
Liam Payne Found With 'Pink Cocaine' In His System
According to sources, Payne, who had reportedly maintained sobriety for some time prior to his recent trip, encountered an environment that may have compromised his recovery. "Someone there started giving him drugs," one source disclosed, indicating that exposure to substances on the trip could have played a significant role in the heartbreaking sequence of events.
A partial autopsy has revealed that Payne had traces of "pink cocaine"—a recreational drug commonly consisting of a blend of ketamine, MDMA, and methamphetamine—in his system at the time of his death. Additionally, the report indicated the presence of cocaine, benzodiazepine, and crack, providing further insight into the factors surrounding the tragic incident.
Liam Payne's Body Found In Hotel Courtyard
Hotel staff discovered 31-year-old Payne’s body in the property’s courtyard shortly after he fell from the balcony of his room.
Buenos Aires authorities previously said in a statement to Page Six that “due to the position in which the body was left and the injuries from the fall, it is presumed that Payne did not adopt a reflex posture to protect himself and that he could have fallen while in a state of semi- or total unconsciousness.”
In the hours leading up to his death, numerous eyewitnesses reported that Payne had been behaving erratically in the hotel lobby.
American Tourist Claims Liam Payne Passed Out Before Hotel Staff Brought Him Back To His Room
An American tourist recounted that the late star had even passed out shortly before hotel staff "escorted him back up to his room."
“There was an incident where he was very frustrated and was smashing his laptop in the lobby, and then the final time he came down, he actually passed out in the lobby of the hotel,” the hotel guest said in an interview for “Impact x Nightline: One Direction: Liam Payne’s Final Days.”
Later reports revealed that hotel staff had made two calls to emergency services, emphasizing the singer's need for "urgent" assistance.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
