Authorities in Buenos Aires have launched an investigation into Liam Payne's death

Buenos Aires police said in a statement: "Liam James Payne, composer and guitarist, former member of the band One Direction, died today after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Palermo."

Local authorities are now investigating the incident and conducting an autopsy.

Alberto Crescenti, the head of the state emergency medical system, has confirmed that the pop star fell into an internal courtyard at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel.

Crescenti told Argentina's Todo Noticias TV channel: "A few minutes later [an] emergency team arrived and confirmed the death of this man who we later learned was from a musical group.

"He had injuries incompatible with life as a result of his fall. There was no way to do anything."

Liam has been open about his personal struggles in recent years, and he previously admitted to struggling with addiction during his time on tour.

The singer explained to the Guardian newspaper in 2019: "Doing a show to however many thousands of people, then being stuck by yourself in a country where you can't go out anywhere - what else are you going to do? The minibar is always there."

Liam also attended therapy for two years, after One Direction announced their hiatus in 2016.

The pop star admitted that he initially struggled to deal with life away from the group.

Liam - who joined the chart-topping boy band as a teenager - shared: "It was difficult at the start, because I didn't really know anything about myself. It was a bit of a numb feeling."