After his death abroad, many have been left wondering why Liam Payne was in Argentina in the days leading up to his tragic passing. While initial reports pointed to him being on vacation, new details have emerged suggesting that the former One Direction star may have been “forced” to stay in Buenos Aires before his death.
Related: Liam Payne’s Life Was ‘in Danger’ According to Chilling 911 Call Made Before His Death
The “Teardrops” singer passed away on October 16, 2024, at the age of 31 after falling from a third-floor hotel room balcony. According to Alberto Crescenti, chief of Buenos Aires emergency services, Payne suffered “serious injuries” that proved fatal before responders could intervene. Crescenti told La Nación, “Our role was to head there quickly, give medical attention, and try to resuscitate him, but his injuries were incompatible with life.”
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A preliminary autopsy report has since shed more light on the extent of Payne’s injuries from the accident. The report established that Liam had suffered 25 injuries as a result of his catastrophic fall. Experts stated that the cranioencephalic injuries were severe enough to cause death, with “internal and external” hemorrhaging found in his skull, thorax, abdomen, and limbs. Notably, the forensic experts found no defensive injuries on Payne’s hands, and they also observed no injuries that would suggest the involvement of third parties.
As fans worldwide mourn this sudden loss, there’s still the question of why Liam Payne was in Argentina at the time of his passing. Initially, it was reported that he had traveled to Buenos Aires to see his former bandmate Niall Horan perform at a sold-out concert. However, new information has come to light regarding the real reason behind Payne’s extended stay in the country.
Why was Liam Payne in Argentina before his death?
According to a report by MailOnline, Liam Payne was “forced” to remain in Argentina due to unexpected complications with his visa for the United States. Sources close to the situation shared that Payne had traveled to Buenos Aires with the intention of renewing his “O-1 non-immigration” visa, which would have allowed him to journey to Florida with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy.
The O-1 visa is a special category reserved for individuals with “extraordinary ability” in various fields, including the arts. According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, it’s for those who have “a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry and has been recognized nationally or internationally for those achievements.”
However, the visa renewal process didn’t go as smoothly as anticipated. A source speaking to the MailOnline explained the situation: “One of the questions on the form asks, ‘Have you ever abused alcohol or drugs?’ Liam’s problems with drugs and alcohol are well documented. It is widely known that he had been to rehab in the US, so he had to tick the box, and because of this he had to have medical tests. He had to be checked out by a doctor and a psychiatrist.”
The source added, “All this took time. So Liam was forced to stay in Buenos Aires longer than he had planned.”
Despite these initial hurdles, friends of Payne claim that he had passed the medical and psychiatric tests, and his visa was due to be approved. At the time of his visa issues, Liam was reportedly “100 per cent sober” and had a meeting scheduled at the embassy on October 17, 2024 to collect his visa.
A unnamed friend of Payne’s expressed shock at the tragic turn of events, sharing they had “no idea” that Liam would do “anything stupid” when they last spoke.