Liam Payne, who shot to global fame with boy band One Direction, was found dead after he fell from a third-floor hotel room balcony in Buenos Aires, triggering an outpouring of tributes from fans and music stars around the world.
As news emerged of the 31-year-old English singer's death, fans of one of the world's biggest-selling boy bands gathered outside the hotel in the Argentinian capital's leafy Palermo neighbourhood to sing his songs and celebrate his life.
Police said in a statement they had been called to the CasaSur hotel after being notified of an "aggressive man who could be under the effects of drugs and alcohol".
When they arrived, the hotel manager reported he had heard a loud noise from the inner courtyard and the police found that a man had fallen from the balcony of his room, the statement said. In audio obtained from the Buenos Aires security ministry, a worker can be heard asking for police help.
"When he is conscious he is destroying the entire room and we need you to send someone," the worker said, adding that the guest's life was at risk because the room had a balcony.
One Direction found global success after the band was formed on the British version of Simon Cowell's The X Factor talent show in 2010, bringing together Payne, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson.
It went on an "indefinite hiatus" in 2016 before the band members pursued solo careers. Payne's last single was "Teardrop", released in March this year.
While details surrounding the circumstances of his death remained unclear, Payne had spoken publicly about his struggles with mental health and using alcohol to cope with the pressures of fame.
One Direction fan told Reuters at a vigil outside the hotel: "I feel like it's like a dream, like I'm going to sleep now and tomorrow it's all going to be a lie...I think it's going to take me a while to accept all this, it's very complicated."
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