Liam Payne died from “polytrauma” after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires, a U.K. inquest into the singer’s cause of death confirmed on Wednesday.
Polytrauma is a medical term that refers to the occurrence of multiple traumatic injuries affecting more than one body part or organ system.
Payne, a former member of the pop group One Direction, died on Oct. 16. He was 31. A preliminary autopsy determined Payne died from multiple traumas and internal and external bleeding caused by a fall. In November, officials announced Payne had traces of alcohol, cocaine and a prescription antidepressant in his system when he fell to his death.
According to the BBC, an inquest hearing held on Dec. 17 in London was told that it may take “some time” to ascertain how Payne died.
A senior coroner said during the hearing, “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.”
Five people in Argentina have been charged in connection with Payne’s death.
On Monday, 21-year-old hotel worker Ezequiel Pereyra, who was accused of supplying Payne with drugs before his death, reportedly turned himself in to Argentine officials.
News of Pereyra’s reported surrender came a week after the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office of Argentina announced in a Spanish-language statement that Judge Laura Bruniard was prosecuting five people for their alleged involvement in Payne’s death. Officials said a hotel employee and a representative of Payne were among the five suspects.
Payne had reportedly attended former bandmate Niall Horan’s concert in Argentina just days before his death.
An initial police statement said Payne “had jumped from the balcony of his room.” Police rushed to the hotel in response to an emergency call just after 5 p.m. local time warning of an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” the statement added.
Days later, a toxicology report found that Payne had multiple substances in his bloodstream when he died, including cocaine, benzodiazepine, crack and “pink cocaine,” a cocktail of multiple recreational drugs.
Payne’s unexpected death sent shock waves through the music world, and among a generation of fans who grew up with One Direction.
Days after his death, Payne’s former bandmates Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson released a joint statement on Instagram:
“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing. In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly. The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”
With files from the Associated Press.
