The father of late One Direction star Liam Payne has travelled to Argentina in an emotional journey to identify his son’s body and visit the hotel where the singer tragically lost his life.

Geoff Payne arrived in Buenos Aires in the early hours of Friday morning, reportedly landing in the Argentine capital at around 6am. His visit came just days after the shocking death of the 31-year-old singer, whose passing has left fans around the world mourning the loss of a beloved performer.

After making a brief stop at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Geoff Payne travelled to the City Judicial Morgue on Viamonte Street, where he formally identified his son’s body. The process was an important step ahead of the planned repatriation of Liam Payne’s remains back to the United Kingdom.

According to reports, Payne’s father was accompanied throughout his visit by British diplomatic representatives and a trusted security professional who had previously worked with One Direction and supported the Payne family. The presence of close support highlighted the difficult circumstances surrounding the family’s efforts to deal with the tragedy far from home.

Liam Payne, who rose to international fame as a member of One Direction, died on Wednesday evening after falling from the third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in the Palermo neighbourhood of Buenos Aires. The incident immediately attracted worldwide attention, with fans, fellow musicians and members of the entertainment industry expressing their grief and sharing tributes to the singer.

The former One Direction member suffered severe injuries in the fall and died shortly after the incident. His death marked a heartbreaking moment for millions of fans who had followed his journey from his early days on television talent shows to becoming part of one of the most successful pop groups in modern music history.

Following his visit to the morgue, Geoff Payne later travelled to the Casa Sur Hotel, the location where his son spent his final moments. Outside the hotel, hundreds of fans had gathered to create a temporary memorial filled with flowers, handwritten letters, photographs and messages of love and support for the singer.

When Payne arrived at the hotel, he was met by a large crowd of journalists and photographers covering the heartbreaking visit. Media representatives surrounded the entrance as he made his way inside, while some fans expressed their frustration and attempted to protect the privacy of Liam’s grieving father during the emotional moment.

Later, Geoff Payne returned outside the hotel to view the tributes left by Liam’s supporters. The atmosphere changed completely as fans who had gathered around the memorial became silent, allowing him the space to grieve and reflect on the overwhelming display of affection for his son.

Surrounded by a large group of people, Payne carefully looked through the messages, flowers and photographs left by fans from different countries. Some of the messages were written in English, showing the international impact Liam had throughout his career.

In a deeply emotional moment, Geoff Payne kissed several photographs of his son and spent time reading the words written by fans. Before returning inside the hotel, he looked across the crowd and silently mouthed the words “Thank you”, acknowledging the support and kindness shown by those who had gathered.

The gesture moved many fans, with several people embracing each other and breaking down in tears. Shortly afterwards, the crowd began a spontaneous round of applause in memory of Liam Payne, creating a powerful moment of respect and remembrance outside the hotel.

The singer’s death has prompted an outpouring of grief across the world. Fans who grew up listening to One Direction’s music have shared memories, photographs and messages celebrating Liam’s career and his influence on a generation of listeners.

Born in Wolverhampton, England, Liam Payne became one of the most recognisable figures in global pop music after One Direction was formed on the television programme The X Factor in 2010. Alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik, he helped the group become one of the best-selling boy bands of all time.

After One Direction announced its hiatus in 2016, Liam continued his career as a solo artist and released his own music. Throughout his career, he remained connected with fans who admired not only his performances but also his openness about personal challenges and his journey in the public eye.

Authorities in Argentina continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death. An autopsy reportedly found that Liam Payne suffered multiple traumas as well as internal and external haemorrhaging following the fall from the hotel balcony.

The investigation aims to establish the full details of what happened before the tragic incident. Officials have continued gathering information while respecting the privacy of the singer’s family during this difficult period.

For Geoff Payne and the rest of Liam’s loved ones, the journey to Argentina has been a painful farewell to a son, father and global music figure whose life touched millions of people. The emotional scenes outside the Casa Sur Hotel showed the deep connection between Liam and his supporters, many of whom continue to honour his memory through messages of love and remembrance.

As arrangements are made to bring Liam Payne home, fans around the world continue to pay tribute to the singer, remembering his music, his achievements and the lasting impact he made during his life.