Liam Payne has been surrounded by speculation he may have been with an ex-partner in the lead up to his death, with sources claiming the ex was staying in the same hotel

Liam Payne’s ex-fiancée is not the mysterious ex-partner who was said to be staying at the same hotel.

The former One Direction singer tragically fell to his death aged 31 last week, falling from the balcony of his third floor hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The star died after suffering multiple traumas leading to an “internal and external haemorrhage”. But a hotel worker claims that while Liam was alone at the time of his death, an ex was staying in the same hotel.

Speaking to an Argentinian TV programme, Esteban Grassi said: “He was seen alone but his ex-partner was around.” When he was asked on El Trece show Telenoche: “So she was staying at the hotel too”, he responded: “Yes: before adding: “A floor above, yes” when he was further asked whether she was above the third-floor suite Liam was in.

Since the news emerged, fans on social media had speculated that the mysterious partner may have been Liam’s former fiancée, Texan author Maya Henry. But sources close to the late star have since dismissed this. Speaking to the Mirror, a source said: “Maya Henry has never been to Argentina, and she was not back with Liam Payne.”

Tributes to Liam Payne left outside of St Thomas’ Church in Newcastle

Prior to Liam’s death, Maya appeared on a social media podcast and explained that Liam had been trying to get in contact with her – despite her showing no interest. A source knowledgable of the situation went on to say: “These are baseless and false social media rumours.”

A small clip of the programme featuring part of the interview has been shown online and also mention in other Argentinian media outlets. It was not made clear who Mr Grassi was referring to in his claim. He is understood to have been among three hotel workers prosecutors revealed they had questioned.

Liam’s girlfriend, Kate Cassidy had been holidaying in the Latin American country with him but left just two days before his devastating death, stating she wanted to return home to Florida. Addressing her decision to leave, Kate told her online followers: “I was ready to go back… Honestly, I love South America, but I hate being in one place for too long. We were supposed to stay for five days, but it turned into two weeks and I needed to get home.”

Of Liam’s 25 life threatening injuries, he is believed to have suffered a skull fracture. Investigators have indicated they do not suspect any “third-party” involvement but have made it clear the hunt is still on for his dealer amid speculation someone from his hotel was supplying him with narcotics. Argentinian news portal Infobae reported earlier this week forensic experts had discovered traces of cocaine in Liam’s body but tests on the white powder had so far proved “inconclusive.”

Reports in the States claim that he had traces of pink cocaine in his body, a mixture of narcotics containing MDMA, ketamine, methamphetamine had been found in his system during a partial autopsy along with crack cocaine and benzodiazepine.