One of the last people to see Liam Payne alive reveals his ‘disturbing’ behaviour in final hours before his tragic death
ONE of the final people to see Liam Payne alive has revealed how the star displayed “disturbing” behaviour shortly before he died.
The woman also told of a shocking admission the former One Direction star made minutes before he fell to his death from a hotel balcony.
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This is understood to be the final photo of Liam
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White powder and burnt aluminium foil were allegedly found inside Liam Payne’s hotel room
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A smashed up TV and champagne glasses were also picturedCredit: Clarin
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Liam pictured performing at MetLife stadium in 2015Credit: AP
She said Liam told her: “I used to be in a boy band – that’s why I’m so f**ked up.”
Rebecca, not her real name, was also staying at the CasaSur Hotel in Argentina when Liam, 31, fell to his death on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old said she has been left “shaken” by what happened, having seen Liam just moments before he died.
She told the Mail how “there was something a bit desperate” about Liam’s behaviour.
Rebecca encountered Liam in the foyer of the hotel in Buenos Aires on Wednesday afternoon and took photos of him at 4.26pm local time (8.26pm UK time).
Police were called to the hotel at 5.04pm after Liam fell, and after an ambulance arrived at 5.11pm he was declared dead.
Rebecca, from Washington DC, said staff at the hotel were “a little on edge” because Liam hadn’t checked out of his suite as he was due to that morning.
She said when she entered the lobby area, Liam was waiting by the lift and “wanted someone to recognise him”.
Rebecca added: “When the lift came he suddenly said to us without any prompting: ‘Yes, I’m Liam!’ really drawing it out, and then said ‘All right come on you lot, get in the elevator with me, I love a cuddle’.
“I decided against it and waited for the next one, but some of the other girls got in with him and half way up, he started saying ‘Oh, you’re Americans, I live in West Palm Beach.
One Direction stars break silence & make heartbreaking tribute to Liam Payne after ex-bandmate dies in tragic hotel fall
“I know Americans. You guys are f***ing crazy! You guys are f***ing dangerous!
“And then he grabs a girl who I think was with him and starts fake choking her, only lightly, but the others thought it was really disturbing.
Rebecca said when she returned to the foyer around ten minutes later, Liam came back to the area and laid on the sofa with his laptop.
She claims he became “upset” by an email on his screen and shouted “f**k this s**t mate” before smashing the laptop on the ground.
Rebecca added: “Everyone, especially the staff was really shocked. It’s a high-end hotel and his behaviour was so out of place – people were just chilling.
“I went over, asked ‘are you OK?’ But he just kind of grunted. Then he said ‘I used to be in a boyband. That’s why I’m so f**ked up.”
Rebecca said hotel staff were “freaking out and watching him really nervously”.
She also claims someone “from his entourage” apologised on Liam’s behalf and said: “I’m sorry, he just gets so high sometimes.”
Moments later, Rebecca said Liam again returned to the lobby and “just tripped and fell flat on his face”.
She said staff then helped him back in the lift.
Brett Watson, another guest at the hotel, said he and others saw Liam “causing a disturbance” minutes before he died.
Watson, from Chicago, told ITV Liam appeared to “pass out” in the lobby before he “had to be physically taken back up to his room”.
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The singer fell to his death into the courtyard of the CasaSur HotelCredit: Reuters