One Direction star Liam Payne sadly died aged 31 after falling from his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and it’s believed he was ‘hurting’ before his death

As the investigation into Liam Payne’s death continues, a source has claimed he was “hurting on the inside”.

The former One Direction star sadly died at the age of 31 on October 16 after falling from the third story balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Liam had traveled to the South American country to attend a concert by his former bandmate Niall Horan.

Investigators have linked the death to a substance-induced “psychotic episode”. No foul play is suspected in the death and investigators don’t believe there was any third-party involvement.

Now, a source has opened up about how Liam was feeling before he died. They said: “On the outside, Liam was all smiles.”

Liam Payne death scene
Police gathered outside the hotel where Liam Payne died (Image:AFP via Getty Images)
Speaking to Life and Style Magazine, the source added: “But on the inside, he was hurting. He was basically leading a devastating double life.”

Liam’s body will soon be transferred to a funeral parlor and embalmed, according to Argentinian media outlets. Liam’s dad Geoff Payne flew out to Argentina following his son’s death to deal with the logistics of the repatriation process.

It’s believed Liam had big plans for his future before his fatal fall. Shortly before his death, Liam had been working on the new Netflix show Building the Band.

A source has said the singer was “so fulfilled by his experience”. They also said Liam had wanted to continue working with the bands after production ended.

Liam Payne
The singer had been struggling ( Image: Getty Images for Nickelodeon)

The source said: “Liam seemed so genuinely happy to be on set. He looked healthy, and was smiling in all his fan interactions, signing things and chatting with them between takes.”

Speaking to People Magazine, the source added: “He was having a great time doing what he loved, and showed no signs of any underlying issues.” The source also suggested Liam was always on hand to give feedback to the musicians and showed an interest in their development.

The future of Building the Band was thrown into doubt following Liam’s death. While some reports suggested the show might be cancelled, it appears there’s still hope for its release.

A source said: “It is too soon to make a decision, but the show has definitely not been shelved.” Speaking to The Sun, the source continued: “Filming was completed at the end of summer. Netflix will sit down with Liam’s family when the time is right to speak about the series and when it could be released.

“Everyone involved is devastated and their heart goes out to his family. There is no rush or pressure to release the series. It would simply be a beautiful tribute to Liam and capture him at his best in the months before his death.”