Buckinghamshire artist Liam Payne has died aged 31 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The former One Direction band member was found dead after falling from the third floor of a hotel, according to the AFP news agency.
The singer, who lived in Chalfont St Giles, rose to global fame as part of the boy band formed in 2010 on The X Factor, which became one of the biggest pop groups in the world.
Alberto Crescenti, head of the state emergency medical system, said on Argentina’s Todo Noticias TV channel that Payne fell into a courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel in the Palermo neighbourhood of Argentina’s capital, AP said.
Payne was part of the original line-up of the world-famous boy band, formed in 2010, alongside Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Harry Styles.
Payne is said to have been in Buenos Aires to attend the concert of his former bandmate Horan, having been seen dancing at his show two weeks ago at the Movistar Arena alongside his girlfriend Kate Cassidy.
Payne moved to Chalfont St Giles in 2020 to rent a £5million property to be closer to his son Bear, according to reports at the time.
He and Girls Aloud singer Cheryl were in a high-profile relationship between 2016 and 2018, with the couple previously living together in the nearby village Chalfont St Peter.
After becoming one of the biggest pop groups in the world with five albums and four world tours, One Direction went on indefinite hiatus in 2016.
Payne released his debut solo album LP1 in December 2019 which included the singles Polaroid and Familiar.
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