Liam Payne's Official Cause of Death Confirmed Following Coroner Inquest in His Native U.K.
The One Direction singer died on Oct. 16 after falling from the balcony of his hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Liam Payne arrives at the "All Of Those Voices" UK Premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square on March 16, 2023 in London, England.Liam Payne’s cause of death has reportedly been confirmed by an inquest opening in his native United Kingdom.
The 31-year-old singer died on Oct. 16 of “polytrauma,” according to a hearing that took place in December at Buckinghamshire Coroner’s Court, the BBC reported. Polytrauma means multiple injuries that involve multiple organs or systems, according to the National Library of Medicine.
The outlet reported that per the hearing, Payne — who died after falling from the balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina — was formally identified with help from funeral directors in Buckinghamshire.
“Whilst there are ongoing investigations in Argentina into the circumstances of Liam’s death, over which I have no legal jurisdiction, it is anticipated that procuring the relevant information to address particularly how Liam came by his death may take some time through the formal channel of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office,” Senior Coroner Crispin Butler said during the hearing, according to the BBC.
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Liam Payne performs during WE Day UK 2019 at The SSE Arena on March 06, 2019 in London, England.A preliminary autopsy report released shortly after Payne’s death indicated he died of multiple injuries and “internal and external” hemorrhages, according to the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office.
The coroners confirmed to PEOPLE at the time that 25 injuries in the autopsy were "compatible with those caused by a fall from a height" and noted that "the head injuries were sufficient to cause death," while the "internal and external hemorrhages" of the skull, thorax, abdomen and limbs contributed to Payne's death.
They also confirmed that "no defensive injuries were found" and no injuries suggested that any third parties were involved.
A toxicology report released in November by the prosecutor’s office said Payne had traces of “alcohol, cocaine and prescription antidepressants” in his system at the time of his death.
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Liam Payne poses for a photograph as Liam Payne and Rita Ora visit KISS FM at Bauer Radio on January 12, 2018 in London, England.On Dec. 30, Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office charged five people in connection with the singer’s death. Manslaughter charges were announced against the CasaSur hotel manager and receptionist, as well as a friend of Payne’s. A hotel employee and a waiter were charged with supplying drugs.
The waiter, Braian Nahuel Paiz, was arrested on Jan. 3, his lawyer confirmed to PEOPLE, and he is facing between four and 15 years in prison. Hotel employee Ezequiel David Pereya reportedly turned himself into police, the Argentinian newspaper La Nacion reported.
The singer was laid to rest at a funeral in the English countryside on Nov. 20. Attendees included girlfriend Kate Cassidy and former One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan.
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