Liam Payne ‘jumped from the balcony’ of hotel room before death, authorities say

The former One Direction member died outside the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires.

Authorities have provided more information about the death of singer Liam Payne.

Buenos Aires Security Ministry communications director Pablo Policicchio said that the One Direction member “had jumped from the balcony of his room” in a statement obtained by Entertainment Weekly,

The 31-year-old artist was pronounced dead after he fell multiple stories at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel, Policía Federal Argentina confirmed. An investigation into his death is underway and an autopsy will be conducted.

Related: Celebrity deaths 2024: Remembering the stars we’ve lost this year

Argentine news outlet TN reported that Buenos Aires’ emergency services director Alberto Crescenti said in translated comments made in Spanish that Payne suffered “a fracture at the base of the skull” following the fall.

Policicchio said police rushed to the scene after receiving an emergency call around 5 p.m. local time about an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”

In a 911 call obtained by the AP, the hotel’s manager reportedly notified authorities that it had “a guest who is overwhelmed with drugs and alcohol,” adding, “He’s destroying the entire room and, well, we need you to send someone, please.”

The manager reportedly became increasingly nervous during the call, noting that the guest’s hotel room had a balcony. However, it is unclear if he identified the guest as Payne.

After auditioning for The X Factor in 2008, Payne returned to the series in 2010 and was put into a group with Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik that would become One Direction. The band would place third on the reality competition series before becoming global superstars, releasing five albums and touring the world before going on an indefinite hiatus in 2015.

Payne is survived by his son, Bear; his ex Cheryl Cole; and his fiancée Kate Cassidy.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.