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NY Post

Chilling emergency call from frantic hotel manager details Liam Payne’s final moments before his shocking death

Jacki Thrapp
3 min read
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A newly released emergency call detailed the chilling moments that led up to One Direction star Liam Payne’s deadly fall from a hotel balcony in Argentina.

A frantic manager for the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires begged for law enforcement and requested “urgent” assistance, alleging the out-of-control singer was “putting his life at risk.”

“Hello, good morning. I just called and my line got disconnected. I’m calling [from] the CasaSur hotel in Palermo, Costa Rica 6032,” the manager is heard saying in Spanish in audio obtained by the Sun UK and La Nacion.

Payne fell from a balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires. TripAdvisor
Payne fell from a balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires. TripAdvisor

“What happened there, sir?” the operator replied.

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The manager, “Esteban,” claimed that Payne was destroying his hotel room and was under the influence of “drugs and alcohol.”

“Well, we have a guest who is drunk on drugs and alcohol. And, well, he’s … When he’s conscious, he’s breaking up the whole room. And, well, we need you to send someone, please,” the distressed manager pleaded.

A frantic emergency call details Liam Payne’s final minutes alive. via REUTERS
A frantic emergency call details Liam Payne’s final minutes alive. via REUTERS

They discussed the location of the hotel and the manager insisted, “We need you to send someone urgently because, well, I don’t know if this guest’s life is at risk. 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.”

“How long has he been there or is it a residential hotel?” the operator asked.

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“No, no, he’s been there for two or three days,” the manager said.

“We have a guest who is drunk on drugs and alcohol,” the manager told authorities. Amelia McGoldrick/MEGA
“We have a guest who is drunk on drugs and alcohol,” the manager told authorities. Amelia McGoldrick/MEGA
The singer fell from the third floor of the hotel into the courtyard. CasaSur Palermo Hotel
The singer fell from the third floor of the hotel into the courtyard. CasaSur Palermo Hotel
Fans rushed to the hotel to honor Liam Payne after the tragedy. Getty Images
Fans rushed to the hotel to honor Liam Payne after the tragedy. Getty Images

“Resources” were sent at 5:04 p.m. and emergency medical services were requested after police were notified of a fall around 5:07 p.m., La Nacion reported.

Payne died at the scene, with authorities saying “there was no possibility of resuscitating him.” Payne’s body was put into an ambulance that drove away with a police escort.

It’s not clear if Payne’s death was intentional or accidental, but Security Ministry of Buenos Aires representative Pablo Policicchio declared that the musician “had thrown himself from the balcony of his room.”

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Eyewitnesses at the hotel told TMZ that Payne “had been acting erratic” in the hotel lobby shortly before the 31-year-old hitmaker fell from the third-floor balcony of the hotel.

The pop star reportedly smashed his laptop in the lobby and had to be carried into his room.

Forensic investigators in hazmat suits responded to the hotel where the pop star died. AP
Forensic investigators in hazmat suits responded to the hotel where the pop star died. AP
It’s not clear if Payne’s death was intentional or accidental. REUTERS
It’s not clear if Payne’s death was intentional or accidental. REUTERS

An insider told Page Six that “Liam had been cycling through periods of ruinous behavior for a long time,” adding that “his demons were much worse than he let on.”

Shortly before his death, Payne claimed he was having a “lovely day in Argentina” in a since-deleted Snapchat story during his vacation with girlfriend Kate Cassidy.

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Cassidy flew back to Miami on Monday — two days before the tragedy.

The couple was in Argentina to see his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan perform on Oct. 2, but then stayed longer than initially planned.

Liam Payne was in Argentina to see his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan perform. Richard Young/Shutterstock
Liam Payne was in Argentina to see his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan perform. Richard Young/Shutterstock
Cassidy told TikTok followers “I was so ready to leave” Argentina as she traveled solo back to Florida two days before her boyfriend died. GC Images
Cassidy told TikTok followers “I was so ready to leave” Argentina as she traveled solo back to Florida two days before her boyfriend died. GC Images

Payne told fans in an Instagram Story that he had things “to square up” with Horan but didn’t get into specifics about it.

The Post has reached out to Payne’s reps for comment.

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