Tragic Liam Payne will be flown back to the UK today as the One Direction star’s body has finally been released to his family.
The news comes three weeks after Liam died at the age of 31 on October 16 when he fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
An autopsy previously confirmed Liam had suffered internal and external bleeding and multiple traumatic injuries sustained as a result of the fall.
Just last week local police raided the Casa Sur Hotel where the fall occurred as they followed up on allegations that staff had sold the singer drugs in the hours leading up to his death.
Liam’s body had been held in Argentina while local officials completed further post-mortem tests. It was released to his family on Wednesday, public prosecutor Andrés Madrea told the BBC.
Prosecutors have explored the theory that Liam was in ‘a state of semi or total unconsciousness’ during an apparent drug-fuelled episode on the morning of his death.
The singer’s father Geoff Payne has been in the country where his son died over recent weeks and was seen earlier this week paying respects to his son and even joining mourners amid a sea of floral tributes.
Thousands of fans across the world gathered in the days and weeks following Liam’s passing with many breaking down in tears.
Speaking to MailOnline, one fan at a London vigil, 19-year-old Tyger Paige, recounted her reaction to the tragic news: ‘I didn’t know what to do.
‘We don’t know him in-person but we all grew up with him.’
The fan then broke down in tears and spoke of the significance of the band to her: ‘It feels like we all forgot about One Direction.
‘It feels like we failed. I wish everyone just came together whilst he was alive.
‘They were everywhere. They were everything.’
News of the singer’s repatriation comes shortly after reports in the Argentine press had claimed the necessary paperwork to allow for the singer’s body to return home were complete.
Geoff Payne was initially warned by investigators upon his arrival in Buenos Aires that it would take up to 15 days before all their examinations were over.
Liam had been in Argentina with long-term girlfriend Kate Cassidy, leaving the couple’s holiday to return home to the US two days prior to his death.
The singer’s solo career came off the back of global stardom that began with ITV talent show, The X Factor.
He was eventually put in a boyband with four other solo hopefuls at the boot camp stage of the competition – the group which later became One Direction.
In 2012, the band won their first Brit Award for best British single for their debut track What Makes You Beautiful, before picking up the Brit global success award a year later.
The members would eventually go there separate ways before Liam launched his solo career.
A young woman staying in the same hotel said she was told by the former One Direction singer just minutes before he died: ‘I used to be in a boy band – that’s why I’m so f**ked up’.
Rebecca’s surprise 30-minute long encounter with Payne took place in the foyer of the hotel, where she was staying for a wedding. Payne had been due to check out on Wednesday morning, but still had not done so by late afternoon, she claimed.
Following the star’s death, Payne’s family said they were ‘heartbroken’, adding: ‘Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.’
A joint statement from his One Direction bandmates said they were ‘completely devastated’ and will miss the singer ‘terribly’, adding the ‘memories we shared with him will be treasured forever’.