A chilling 911 call made before the death of One Direction star Liam Payne reveals that hotel staff were deeply concerned for his safety, fearing his “life could be at risk.”
Liam Payne, 31, tragically died on the evening of Wednesday, October 16, after falling from a balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires.
In the desperate call to emergency services, which has since been released by Argentine media, the hotel receptionist, identified as Esteban, expressed alarm over Payne’s condition.
“We have a guest who is out of control, under the influence of drugs and alcohol,” Esteban says in the recording. “He is conscious but destroying everything in the room. We urgently need help.”
Esteban goes on to share his fear for Payne’s safety: “We’re worried he might do something, that he could be putting his life in danger. He’s in a room with a balcony, and we don’t know what might happen.”
The worker explained that Payne had been staying at the hotel for “two or three days” and staff were unable to access his room.
Tragically, by the time police arrived, Payne was found dead in the hotel’s inner courtyard, having fallen from his balcony at the CasaSur Hotel in Palermo.
A local ambulance manager later confirmed: “At 17:04, we received an alert through the 911 public safety system about a person in the hotel’s internal courtyard. By 17:11, our team arrived and confirmed the death of a man, who we later learned was a singer in a musical group. His injuries were not compatible with life, and resuscitation was not possible.”
It was reported that Payne had been “behaving erratically” earlier in the day, smashing his laptop and needing to be carried back to his room.
Below is the 911 conversation in full
911 responder: “What happened there, sir?”
Hotel employee: “Well, we have a guest who is off his head on drugs and alcohol. And well, when he is conscious he is destroying everything in the room. And well, we need you to send someone, please.”
911: “Under the effects of alcohol and drugs, did you say sir?”
Hotel employee: “Yes, correct.”
911: “You told me Costa Rica. Sorry but what number, sir?”
Hotel employee: “Costa Rica, 6032”
911: “That is Buenos Aires capital, between Arevalo and Kramer, right?”
Hotel manager: “Yes.”
911: “Hotel, you said? What’s the hotel called?”
Hotel employee: “CasaSur Palermo. And 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.”
911: “How long has he been there? Or is it a residential hotel?”
Hotel employee: “No, no. He’s been here two or three days.”
911: “Understood. And you wouldn’t know any other information because you can’t get into the room, no?”
Hotel employee: “No.”
911: “We’ll notify the SAME medical response service, okay?”
Hotel employee: “Yes, what I ask you is that you send someone urgently because, well…”
911: “Any other information you can give me. Who are you, the manager?”
Hotel employee: “I am the head of reception.”
911: “You’d be in charge at the moment, right?”
Hotel employee: “Yes.”
911: “What’s your name, sir?”
Hotel employee: “Esteban.”
911: “Okay, this has been notified. Thank you for letting us know. You can hang up now.”
Hotel manager: “Are you sending the police as well or not?
911: “The police for the area you’re in? Give me a second. Area 14.”
Hotel manager: “No, just send the SAME medical response service.”
