What is a base of skull fracture? First responder findings surrounding Liam Payne's death after balcony fall explored

Former One Direction singer Liam Payne died on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, reportedly after falling from his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was 31. According to law enforcement officials, he fell from the third floor of the CasaSur Hotel in Palermo.

Alberto Crescenti, the director of the Buenos Aires Emergency Medical Service (SAME), spoke to local outlet Todo Noticias TV and said that Payne fell from a height of 13 to 14 meters (42 to 45 feet), which resulted in "very serious injuries" that were "incompatible with life" (translated by Google).

He elaborated that medics on the scene found that the singer had fractured the base of his skull.

According to Osmosis.org, a basilar skull fracture is a traumatic head injury that happens when at least one bone in the base of the skull breaks.

The base of the skull separates the brain from the head and neck. Any fracture to the area can result in serious and potentially life-threatening complications. This includes loss of vision, loss of hearing, spinal injury, and death.

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CasaSur Hotel manager made a 911 call just moments before Liam Payne's death

In a statement made to the Associated Press, Pablo Policicchio, the communications director at the Ministry of Security in Buenos Aires, explained that the CasaSur Hotel manager allegedly made an emergency call just moments before Liam Payne's death.

The outlet, citing the 911 call made a little after 5:00 pm local time, reported that the manager spoke of a guest under the influence of drugs or alcohol who was damaging his room. He reportedly urged the operator to hurry as he (Payne) was in a room with a balcony and could do something to harm himself.

When asked to provide information on the guest, the manager explained he had been staying for three days but didn't have further information as they couldn't get into the room. Per a report by La Nacion, Argentina's biggest newspaper, the manager also heard a loud noise in an inner courtyard of the hotel.

SAME officials rushed to the scene and declared Payne dead. In his statement, Crescenti said that an autopsy would confirm the exact cause of death. It remains unclear whether the fall was intentional or accidental.

Witnesses told TMZ, which first reported the news, that Payne was allegedly acting erratic in the hotel lobby and smashed his laptop before being carried back to his room.

In an October 16 article, Page Six quoted an insider source who said:

"Liam had been cycling through periods of ruinous behavior for a long time. He was open about his struggles but tried to downplay them at times. His demons were much worse than he let on."

Additionally, the Todo Noticias TV reported that authorities allegedly found the singer's body with a bottle of whiskey, a lighter, and a cell phone. His room was reported to be messy with objects broken and scattered around, including a broken television, alcohol, and over-the-counter medication.

Moreover, unverified photos claiming to be of Payne's room are circulating on social media. These photos show a burned candle, foil, the head of a can, and the remains of a white powder which is currently being analyzed.

In the days leading to his death, Liam Payne and his girlfriend Kate Cassidy went to Buenos Aires to attend the singer's former bandmate Niall Horan's concert. As per Liam Payne's Snapchat stories, the couple were enjoying their time in Argentina just hours before his death.

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