Understanding Base of Skull Fractures: Insights from First Responder Findings in Liam Payne’s Balcony Fall Incident

Tragically, former One Direction member Liam Payne passed away on October 16, 2024, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, after an incident involving a fall from his hotel balcony. He was just 31 years old. Law enforcement authorities stated that he fell from the third level of the CasaSur Hotel, located in the Palermo area.

Alberto Crescenti, the head of the Buenos Aires Emergency Medical Service (SAME), revealed in an interview with Todo Noticias TV that Payne plummeted from a height ranging between 13 to 14 meters (approximately 42 to 45 feet), suffering “extremely severe injuries”that were deemed “incompatible with life”(as translated by Google).

Crescenti further indicated that first responders discovered the singer had sustained a fracture at the base of his skull.

As explained by Osmosis.org, a basilar skull fracture is a severe head trauma resulting from the breaking of at least one bone at the base of the skull.

The skull’s base acts as a barrier separating the brain from the head and neck. Any fracture in this region poses the risk of grave and potentially fatal complications, including vision loss, hearing impairment, spinal damage, or even death.

Manager of CasaSur Hotel made emergency call shortly before Liam Payne’s tragedy

Pablo Policicchio, the communications director for the Buenos Aires Ministry of Security, informed the Associated Press that just before Liam Payne’s death, the hotel manager had placed an emergency call.

The report indicated that the call was made shortly after 5:00 PM local time, wherein the manager mentioned a guest who appeared to be under the influence of substances, wreaking havoc in his room. He was said to have urged the operator for a quick response, expressing concern that the guest (Payne) might harm himself due to being in a room with a balcony.

When probed for more details about the guest, the manager disclosed that Payne had been staying there for three days but lacked further information since they couldn’t access his room. La Nacion, Argentina’s leading newspaper, reported that the manager also heard a disruptive noise from an inner courtyard.

Paramedics from SAME arrived promptly but sadly pronounced Payne dead. Crescenti noted that an autopsy would be conducted to determine the specific cause of death, leaving uncertainty about whether the fall was a result of accident or intent.

Witness accounts shared with TMZ, the first outlet to break the story, suggested that Payne was exhibiting erratic behavior in the hotel lobby and had damaged his laptop before being escorted back to his room.

On October 16, Page Six cited an insider who revealed:

“Liam had long been cycling through phases of destructive behavior. He was candid about his struggles, though he often tried to minimize them. His inner battles were significantly more severe than he portrayed.”

Additional reports from Todo Noticias TV suggested that authorities discovered Liam’s body accompanied by a whiskey bottle, a lighter, and a cell phone. The state of his room was described as chaotic, with various items broken and scattered, including a damaged television, alcohol containers, and over-the-counter medications.

Moreover, unverified images purportedly showing Payne’s room have been circulating on social media, depicting a burnt candle, foil, the lid of a can, and remnants of a white powder which is currently under investigation.

In the days leading up to his death, Liam Payne and his girlfriend Kate Cassidy had traveled to Buenos Aires to attend a concert by his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan. According to Liam’s Snapchat updates, the couple appeared to be enjoying their time in Argentina mere hours before the tragedy struck.

Liam Payne is survived by his seven-year-old son, Bear, along with his parents and two sisters.

Source