CHERYL reportedly feared the worst for her ex Liam Payne before his tragic death in Buenos Aires.
The ex-One Direction star, 31, was in Argentina for pal Niall Horan’s tour when he tragically fell from the third floor of his hotel balcony.
Liam and Cheryl attend the Chopard Trophy Ceremony in 2016[/caption]
A pregnant Cheryl and Liam seen shortly before their baby was born[/caption]
Liam with his and Cheryl’s son, Bear[/caption]
But months before his death on Wednesday, Liam’s former partner Cheryl was said to be “really worried” about him.
In August last year, the 1D singer had to cancel his tour and take a break from performing after he was rushed to hospital with a serious kidney infection.
Cheryl, who shares seven-year-old son Bear after the couple’s 2018 split, was reportedly concerned about Liam especially after his hospital scare, the Mirror reports.
A source claiming to be close to the Girls Aloud star said at the time: “Cheryl is really worried about Liam.
“As soon as she heard he was in hospital, she feared the worst.
“She’s really protective of him and is worried no one is actually looking out for him.”
Since rising to unprecedented levels of success with One Direction on the X Factor, Liam has struggled with a variety of health difficulties, including addiction, and spending time in rehab.
He admitted that he spent time in a US wellness clinic after he “hit rock bottom”.
He also told how a mystery respiratory illness left him floored in 2021.
Liam admitted turning to alcohol and drugs to hide how he struggled to cope with One Direction’s dizzying levels of fame — which would spark panic attacks and high levels of exhaustion.
In 2021, he blamed a “pills and booze phase” for bloating his face to “ten times the size” while also revealing he used to guzzle the contents of his mini bar when band chiefs checked the lads into hotels to keep fans at bay.
He came across as erratic in interviews by making bizarre claims, including that Cowell built One Direction around his talents and that his solo career has been the most successful of all his bandmates.
Given this, the insider claimed that Cheryl, who is “well aware of the pressure to put talent on tour and make money,” saw his most recent hospital stay as a “red flag,” Heat Magazine reports.
Liam got together while Cheryl was going through her divorce to second husband Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini at the beginning of 2016.
Despite their age difference they looked completely infatuated with each other when the couple made their red carpet debut at Cannes in May 2016.
Liam even paid a sweet tribute to his former girlfriend by getting a tattoo of her eye on his arm.
The pair welcomed their baby on March 22, 2017.
Liam was in Argentina for Niall Horan’s tour when he tragically died[/caption]
Liam died at the CasaSur Hotel in Buenos Aires[/caption]
The Sun revealed in May 2017 that the couple named their son Bear.
However in February 2018, The Sun broke the story that Liam’s constant travelling to promote his solo career had placed a huge strain on the relationship.
Liam also made strange comments about his romance with Cheryl, saying their split was partly down to their son Bear.
Since breaking up with Cheryl, Liam’s love life had been just as turbulent as his health worries.
He was linked to supermodel Naomi Campbell, 54, in 2019.
He had an on-off, three-year relationship with ex-fiancée Maya Henry which was said to have ended for good in May, 2022.
Inside Liam Payne and Cheryl’s romance
By Joanne Kavanagh
IT was a romance that caused a media storm.
One Direction hunk Liam Payne was in a relationship ship X Factor judge Cheryl.
The pair – who have a ten-year age gap – got together while Cheryl was going through her divorce to second husband Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini at the beginning of 2016.
Despite their age difference they looked completely infatuated with each other when the couple made their red carpet debut at Cannes in May 2016.
Liam even paid a sweet tribute to his girlfriend by getting a tattoo of her eye on his arm.
In 2017, Liam and Cheryl welcomed their baby.
Cheryl posted a picture on Instagram of Liam cradling their 7lb 9oz baby.
She captioned the sweet snap with: “On Wednesday Liam and I became parents to an incredibly beautiful, healthy baby boy looking like a dream.”
One pal told The Sun: “Cheryl gave birth to a baby boy on Wednesday, and both are doing well.
“Liam didn’t leave Cheryl’s side throughout the birth, and like her, he is besotted with their new son and can’t wait to take him home.
“This is the perfect Mother’s Day for Cheryl.”
The Sun revealed in May 2017, that the couple named their son Bear.
They decided on the unusual name after spending a week getting to know him.
Bear adopted his One Direction star dad’s surname, so he is called Bear Payne.
A source revealed: “Cheryl and Liam wanted to get to know [their son] before they decided on the name.
“They didn’t have the name Bear before the birth.
“But they’d been thinking of a name since meeting him and they just felt it suited him.”
In February 2018, The Sun broke the story that Liam’s constant travelling to promote his solo career had placed a huge strain on the relationship, and they were ready to split.
That same month, Cheryl declared that “none of it matters” as she shrugged off questions about her crumbling romance with Liam during a BBC Breakfast interview.
They then put on a united front together at the Brit Awards, where they smiled on the red carpet and Cheryl joked about the couple’s ‘safe word’.
However, by July 2018, Cheryl and Liam made the decision to split.
A pal told The Sun: “Cheryl and Liam worked really hard on their relationship – they had troubles earlier this year and were able to get through them.
“But they’re in different stages of their lives and, after a lot of careful thought, came to a decision that it’s best for everyone if they do go their separate ways.”
Liam and Cheryl then released a statement confirming their break-up.
They posted a message on social media that read: “We are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways. It’s been a tough decision for us to make.
“We still have so much love for each other as a family. Bear is our world and we ask that you respect his privacy as we navigate our way through this together.”
Then pictures emerged of him with his arms around American model Aliana Mawla.
The star had arrived in Argentina on September 30 with his most recent girlfriend Kate Cassidy.
He was seen at Niall’s show dancing and meeting fans on October 2.
A source later confirmed to The Sun that Liam had died.
The spokesperson for the local ambulance service said Liam was tragically declared dead at the scene after he fell and suffered severe injuries.
Emergency services chief Alberto Crescenti said the singer died instantly from multiple injuries including a fractured skull.
He said: “The alarm was raised at 5.04pm local time saying a person was lying in an internal patio at Casa Sur.
“Our role was to head there quickly, give medical attention, and try to resuscitate him, but his injuries were incompatible with life.
“Based on what the team saw, there was apparently a cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death.”
A heartbreaking 911 call made by a frantic hotel manager requesting “urgent” assistance before the singer’s death has also been revealed.
The former One Direction star was “behaving erratically” and was even carried back to his hotel room before his death, it was claimed.
Liam was staying at Hotel CasaSur in the neighbourhood of Palermo – where crowds of fans flocked to pay their respects as news of the singer’s death spread.
Argentinian police said they were called to the hotel on Wednesday after staff reported an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol”.
The head of reception made two calls, telling a 911 operator in the first: “We have a guest who is destroying everything in his room. We need someone to come.”
It comes as:
- One Direction fans held candlelit vigils outside the hotel
- The singer posted on Snapchat just minutes before his death
- Rylan Clark and Dermot O’Leary paid tribute to the star
- Liam’s ex-fiancée Maya Henry broke her silence after his death
- His girlfriend Kate Cassidy posted a message before he died
- Harry Styles’ mum paid heartbreaking tribute to the star
He phoned back after the line went dead, repeating his request and claiming: “We need you to send someone urgently because I don’t know if the guest’s life is in danger.
“They must be in a room that has a balcony. And well, we’re a little bit worried he’ll do something, that he’ll put his life at risk.”
Witnesses at the hotel reported Liam smashed his laptop and he had even had to be carried back to his room, according to TMZ.
A haunting photo – purportedly his last one- shows the singer going back to the Hotel CasaSur.
Cops found Liam dead in the hotel’s inner courtyard at around 5pm local time (9pm UK time) when they arrived.
Crowds of fans have gathered outside the hotel to pay tribute to the star[/caption]
Heartbroken fans paid tribute to the former One Direction star[/caption]
Liam pictured with his girlfriend Kate[/caption]
A post-mortem is expected to be carried out later today in Buenos Aires.
Heartbroken fans have gathered outside the hotel for candlelit vigils with many leaving flowers and hand-written messages fixed to a tree.
A bouquet of white carnations was decorated with a heart-shaped ornament which said: “Te Amo’ – “I Love You” in Spanish.
The singer was in Buenos Aires for pal and former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan’s tour.
Liam had shared a post on Snapchat only minutes before his death showing himself with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy looking into a mirror.
Tributes have poured in for the singer with celebrities and fans alike sharing their heartbreak.
Harry Styles’ mum shared a heartbreaking tribute on Instagram writing in the caption: “Just a boy…”.
And Liam’s ex-fiancée Maya Henry was ” in shock” in the wake of the tragic news.
Just two days before Liam’s tragic fall, Maya made comments on a podcast claiming the star “predicted his early death.”
Liam had posted earlier in the day talking about riding horses, playing polo, and looking forward to returning home to see his dog.
He wrote: “It’s a lovely day here in Argentina.”
Kate had also shared a post of Liam just before his death riding a horse with her in the countryside.
The star had arrived in Argentina on September 30 with his girlfriend and was seen at Niall’s show dancing and meeting fans on October 2.
Footage shows Liam at Niall’s concert just days before he died.
He is survived by his son Bear, 7, his parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, and his two older sisters, Ruth and Nicola.
Hotel manager’s call to 911
911 operator: “What is happening sir?”
Hotel manager: “We have a guest drunk with drugs and alcohol. When he [them, gender not clear in conversation] is conscious, he is breaking everything in the room.”
911 operator: “You said alcohol and drugs…”
Hotel manager: “This is correct.”
911 operator: “You said Costa Rica intersecting where?”
Hotel manager: “Costa Rica 6032.”
911 operator: “Repeat.”
Hotel manager: “Costa Rica 6032.”
911 operator: “What is the hotel called?”
Hotel manager: “Caza Azul Palermo. We need to send someone with urgency because I don’t know if the guest’s life is in danger because he is in a room with balcony, and we are afraid he could do something that threatens life.”
911 operator: “How long has he been there? Is it a long-stay hotel?”
Hotel manager: “(The guest) has been for the past three days.”
911 operator: “You don’t any other information because you can’t get in. Right?”
Hotel manager: “No.”
911 operator: “We are also notifying SAME (Medical Emergency Attention Service).”
Hotel manager: “We are asking to send someone with urgency because…”
911 operator: “We are doing that. Any other data to give me. Who are you?”
Hotel manager: “I’m the desk manager.”
911 operator: “Person in charge of the place.”
Hotel manager – “Yes.”
911 operator: “It has been notified. What is your name, sir?”
Hotel manager: “Esteban.”
911 operator: “Thanks for calling. Be online.”
Hotel manager: “Are you sending police too.”
911 operator: “Police from the delegation… Let me confirm.”
Hotel manager: “No, no, only SAME, only SAME (Medical Emergency Attention Service).”
911 operator: “Don’t worry because they have already been notified.”
Hotel manager: “Because as you said he is under the influence of alcohol and drugs, SAME personnel can’t enter alone.”
911 operator: “You can ask that to the police, but if SAME needs them, they will notify you.”
Hotel manager: “Good, OK, perfect.”
911 operator: “Have a good day.”
Hotel manager: “Thanks, you too.”
Back in August, the 31-year-old singer shared a rare insight into his private life posting a video of his son Bear saying he was his “mini-me.”
Born on August 29, 1993, in Wolverhampton, the singer made his debut as a singer when he auditioned for X Factor in 2008.
He joined One Direction aged just 16 after and finishing third on the show with the group.
He was with the band as it released its first album Up All Night in 2011, which went stratospheric and captured hearts around the globe.
He was one of the main songwriters of the band between 2010 and 2016 until the group broke up.
He carried on with his own solo music career and released one solo album in 2019 – LP1.
Liam dated singer Cheryl Cole with the pair having a child named Bear together in 2017.
They split in 2018 before he was linked to supermodel Naomi Campbell in 2019.
He had an on-off, three-year relationship with ex-fiancée Maya which was said to have ended for good in May, 2022.
The singer had been open about his battles with drugs.
In 2019, Liam revealed he suffered suicidal thoughts as he struggled with his fame.
Former One Direction star Liam Payne has died[/caption]
