Singer Liam Payne’s medical cause of death has been confirmed as “polytrauma” during an inquest opening in the UK.
The 31-year-old former One Direction star passed away on 16 October after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. Polytrauma refers to multiple traumatic injuries sustained to the body and organ systems.
At the Buckinghamshire Coroner’s Court hearing on 17 December, it was revealed that formally determining how Payne died may take “some time.” Senior Coroner Crispin Butler explained that while investigations in Argentina are ongoing, the court relies on information from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Payne’s medical cause of death, identified by Dr Roberto Victor Cohen, was recorded as “polytrauma.” The singer was formally identified with the assistance of funeral directors in Buckinghamshire. The inquest has been adjourned until a pre-inquest review scheduled for 6 November.
Five individuals in Argentina have been charged in connection with Payne’s death. The hotel’s manager, Gilda Martin, receptionist Esteban Grassi, and Payne’s friend Roger Nores face manslaughter charges, while hotel worker Ezequiel Pereyra and waiter Braian Paiz have been charged with supplying drugs, according to Argentina’s prosecutor’s office.
Toxicology tests conducted in November revealed traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in Payne’s body. A post-mortem examination found his death resulted from “multiple trauma” and “internal and external haemorrhage” caused by the fall.
Medical reports suggested Payne may have fallen while in a state of semi or total unconsciousness, ruling out a conscious or voluntary act. Prosecutors concluded that Payne did not comprehend his actions at the time of the fall.
Liam Payne rose to fame in the 2010s as a member of One Direction, a group formed on The X Factor. The band went on hiatus in 2016. His funeral was held in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, in November, attended by his former bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik, alongside Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy and former partner Cheryl, with whom he shares a son.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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