A pal of Liam Payne’s has shared their apparent last texts to each other just hours before the former One Direction singer died after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina

Liam Payne was reportedly texting a pal back home just hours before he fell to his death in Argentina.

The former One Direction star was confirmed to have died at the age of 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. Now, a close friend has said he sent her an image shortly before the tragic incident.

The woman named Jodie claimed the singer sent her a picture of him in his hotel in the Argentinian capital. Jodie said the star had messaged her on Monday to ask what she was doing. She told him she was at a gym with her son, with Liam then replying: “Nice”.

He then is said to have shared an image with her of him in his hotel room with a hand pressed to his forehead. She explained she replied: “Sorry just home x.”

According to the Sun he messaged again asking Jodie if she was awake on Wednesday morning. When she replied at around 8am she said they shared a number of messages and he told her he was “chilling” in the South American country.

Hours later, the One Direction star fell from the third floor of a hotel building. Police, firefighters and ambulances were seen outside of a hotel building after Liam tragically fell. Police are said to have been called to reports of a man acting aggressively at the hotel who could be under the effect of drink or drugs.

A body was found in an internal patio of the hotel. The police were called to the hotel by the hotel manager. It’s believed that Liam fell from around 13 or 14 metres and suffered “very serious injuries incompatible with life.” In a statement, the local ambulance manager told TN: “At 17.04 through the 911 integrated public safety system, we were alerted of a person who was in an internal courtyard of the management of a south house hotel.

“There is an internal courtyard where the victim fell, with tables and chairs: the hotel’s confectionery shop operates there. The space has a retractable roof that was open at the time. Fortunately, there were no other people there,” sources in the case said.

Rita Ora was among those paying tribute to the star following the tragic news. Taking to Twitter/X, she wrote: ” I’m devastated. He had the kindest soul, I will never forget. I loved working with him so much – he was just such a joy to be around on and off stage. This tragic news breaks my heart. Sending all my love and prayers to his family and loved ones. Our song For You takes on a whole new meaning for me now. R.I.P.”