Body of One Direction star Liam Payne has flown to Britain

BUENOS AIRES – The father of former One Direction star Liam Payne, who died from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires in October, began repatriating the singer’s body to Britain on November 6, a police source said to AFP.

A flight carrying Payne’s remains left Buenos Aires for London at 1:58 pm local time (12:58 pm on November 7 in Singapore), the source said.

A video circulating on social media showed his father Geoff at Ezeiza International Airport, minutes before boarding.

Argentine media reported that Payne’s body was transferred on the morning of November 6 from the British Cemetery in Buenos Aires, where it was embalmed.

A funeral home employee responsible for the arrangements told AFP on November 5 that it would be repatriated within the next 24 to 48 hours.

Payne was found dead on October 16 after jumping from the balcony of his third-floor room at the CasaSur Hotel in the Argentine capital.

His death at the age of 31 was the reason a worldwide outpouring of grief and condolences from family, former band members, fans and others.

It also sparked a debate over whether the music industry has a duty of care for the mental health of stars who become famous at a young age.

Payne had spoken about it publicly struggles with substance abuse and dealing with fame from a young age.

Hotel staff had called emergency services twice to report that a guest ‘overwhelmed by drugs and alcohol’ was ‘destroying’ a hotel room.