BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Former One Direction singer Liam Payne, 31, whose 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 in a statement that Payne fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in the Argentine capital’s trendy Palermo district, causing “extremely serious injuries.” Medics confirmed his death at the scene, the statement said.

Pablo Policicchio, the communications director of Buenos Aires’ Ministry of Security, said in a statement to The Associated Press that Payne “jumped from the balcony of his room.” Police rushed to the hotel in response to an emergency call just after 5pm local time, he said, warning of an “aggressive man who may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”

The hotel manager can be heard on a 911 call obtained by the AP saying they had “a guest overpowered by drugs and alcohol… He’s destroying the whole room and, well, we need you to send someone , please.” The manager’s voice became more anxious as the conversation continued, noting that the room had a balcony.

Alberto Crescenti, head of the state’s emergency medical system, told Argentine TV channel Todo Noticias that authorities were investigating the circumstances of his death and conducting an autopsy.

Payne had spoken out about her struggles with alcoholism and posted a message video in July 2023 to his YouTube channel, where he said he was six months sober after treatment. Representatives for Payne did not immediately return emails and phone calls.

Dozens of One Direction fans flocked to the Casa Sur Hotel from all over Buenos Aires after the news broke, forming lines that spilled into the cordoned off street outside the hotel where police stood guard. Forensic investigators were seen leaving the hotel, from where Payne’s body was removed about three hours after the fall. Young women filming on their mobile phones expressed their shock and heartbreak as a makeshift memorial with rows of candles and bouquets soon grew outside the hotel.

“I didn’t think he would die so young,” 21-year-old Isabella Milesi told the AP.

Payne was one of them five members of One Direction, which came about when they auditioned for the British singing competition series ‘The X Factor’ in 2010, two years after Payne’s first attempt at getting on the show. At the age of 16, Payne sang Michael Bublé’s version of “Cry Me a River” for the second time, appearing nervous at first but warming up to the audience’s cheers and applause.

After each singer failed to make it through the competition as a solo act, Simon Cowell and his fellow judges combined Payne, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson into what would become one of the most successful boy bands – even though they lost the competition.

Each member had their own personality, with Payne – originally from Wolverhampton, a city in the West Midlands region of England – known as the responsible one. The band became known for their pop sound and romantic hits such as ‘What Makes You Beautiful’, ‘Night Changes’ and ‘Story of My Life’. Payne had prominent solos on songs such as ‘Stole My Heart’ and ‘Change Your Ticket’, and co-wrote several of the band’s hits. They had six Top 10 hits on the Billboard charts by the time they split in 2016 and a fiercely loyal fan base known as “Directioners,” many of whom were teenage girls.

“I’ve always loved One Direction since I was little,” said 18-year-old Juana Relh, another fan outside Payne’s hotel. “To see that he died and that there will never be another reunion of the boys is unbelievable, it hurts me.”

With his meteoric rise to fame, Payne had said it took some time to adjust to the public eye.

“I don’t think you can ever deal with that. It’s all a bit crazy for us to see people get in that state of mind about us and what we do,” he said in a 2013 interview with the AP . recounting an experience where a fan was in shock upon meeting him.

After the group’s breakup, Payne – like each of his former bandmates – pursued a solo career, moving into EDM and hip hop. His 2017 single “Strip That Down,” featuring Quavo, reached the Billboard Top 10 and stayed on the charts for several months. He reached out an album “LP1” in 2019, and his latest release – a single called “Teardrops” – dropped in March.

Payne had one 7 year old son, Bear Gray Payne, with his ex-girlfriend, the musician Cheryl who was known as Cheryl Cole when she performed with Girls Aloud. She was a judge on the X Factor 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.

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Huamani reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press journalists Natacha Pisarenko and Debora Rey contributed from Buenos Aires, Argentina.