The singer was looking forward to the future, according to a source (Image: Getty Images)Liam Payne’s life “could have been saved” if hotel staff had called an ambulance when he collapsed in the lobby, rather than escorting him back to his room, according to a family friend. The 31 year old former One Direction member tragically died after falling from his third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. Reports suggest that Liam was behaving aggressively in the hotel lobby shortly before his death, leading staff to believe he may have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs. After being asked to return to his room by staff, it wasn’t long before the sound of his body hitting the internal courtyard of the hotel was heard. A 911 call transcript reveals the hotel manager telling emergency services: “We have a guest who’s off his head on drugs and is destroying everything in his room. We need someone to come.”
Liam was reportedly ‘in good spirits’ before he died
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The manager called again expressing concern for the guest’s life, specifically mentioning the balcony in Liam’s room, reports the Mirror. They said: “We need you to send someone urgently because, well, I don’t know if the guest’s life is in danger. They must be in a room that has a balcony. And well, we’re a little bit worried he’ll do something, that he’ll put his life at risk.” A source close to Liam has revealed that the singer could have been saved if immediate medical attention was sought when he began acting “erratically” in a hotel lobby. The source told The Mail on Sunday: “Liam didn’t have to die. Liam didn’t want to die. He had promised us all he would never commit suicide. He was looking forward to the future. If someone had called an ambulance when he collapsed in the hotel lobby instead of taking him back to his room and leaving him in there alone, in a psychotic state, he would still be with us.”
Liam’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy left Argentina a few days before the singer died
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Police are now investigating whether the singer’s erratic behaviour was due to a potent substance that can cause extreme highs and lows and make users aggressive. Photos from Liam’s hotel room showed traces of white powder, tin foil and a smashed television screen. However, officials have not yet confirmed or denied these claims. The source who spoke to The Mail on Sunday also said Liam was “happy and in good spirits” on Tuesday while undergoing tests to get his visa for the United States renewed. According to the source, a family friend visited him the morning of his death and brought him his favourite American-style chocolate-chip cookies. The pal, who spent some time with the singer that morning, noted he “seemed a bit tipsy, like he had been drinking, but wasn’t in a bad state.” They added that he was “replicating” 1D hit Fireproof on his computer as he wanted to redo the beat of his favourite hit. They added that Liam was “in a good place, planning for the future” and looking forward to return to Miami to be with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy, who had left Argentina to go back home to care for their dog.
Tributes have poured in for the singer following his tragic passing
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Hotel guest Brett Watson from Chicago shared with ITV that Liam had made multiple returns to the hotel lobby prior to his death – displaying growing frustration at one point by “smashing his laptop” amid other guests. Watson recounted that during Liam’s last appearance in the reception, he “passed out in the lobby of the hotel, looked like he was convulsing a little bit and had to be physically taken back to his room.” The source said: “If Liam was convulsing. why didn’t the hotel call an ambulance immediately? That is what no one can understand. He never convulsed before. If he was that sick why did someone take him back to his room and leave him there alone, with an open door to the balcony?” They continued: “If Liam was in a psychotic state, he wouldn’t have been aware of his actions. It’s possible he was trying to leave his room, thought the balcony was the exit, and accidentally fell. We’re consumed by the fact he was left alone in his room after having convulsions and clearly being in a psychotic state.”
Liam’s dad Geoff was pictured looking at some of the tributes
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Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office No 16 is investigating the incident as an “inconclusive death”. Liam’s sister, Ruth Gibbins, paid a heartfelt tribute to her brother, saying she doesn’t feel “this world was good enough or kind enough” to him. In a statement on Instagram, Ms Gibbins said she loved her brother’s ability to make her laugh and was “in awe” of his talent. She wrote: “My brain is struggling to catch up with what’s happening and I don’t understand where you’ve gone. What I love most about you is your ability to make me laugh, I never chuckle as much as I do when I’m with you with anyone else. “I’m always in awe of your talent, it should be illegal to be so talented and just have the ability to not only be good at things but be bloody great at everything you attempt, without even knowing you’re absolutely smashing it each time.” Meanwhile, as their father is in Buenos Aires dealing with the heartbreaking task of arranging the repatriation of the 1D star’s body, Geoff Payne was seen reading letters and cards from fans outside the Casa Sur Hotel, expressing his gratitude for the outpouring of love and support. If you’ve been affected by any of the issues in this story you can contact Samaritans in the UK and Ireland on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie.Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnLiam PayneOne Direction
