Liam Payne witness describes seeing tragic star’s final moments after picturing him in lobby: ‘It just didn’t seem real’
A HOTEL guest has described seeing Liam Payne’s tragic final moments before his fatal fall from a balcony in Argentina.
Brett Watson, from Chicago, was also staying at the Casa Sur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires and claims he had “multiple encounters” with the ex-One Direction star, even taking a picture of him in the lobby.
Watson, 34, said he remembered the moments following Liam Payne‘s tragic fall on Wednesday afternoon.
When asked what was going through his mind, Watson told ITV News: “It didn’t seem real.
“You almost had to pinch yourself to understand and process what you were seeing, but it just was an out-of-body experience, surreal.”
The American guest had earlier in the day taken a picture of the singer in the hotel lobby.
He is shown reclining on a sofa and using his laptop to check emails.
It is understood the picture of Liam on his laptop was taken at 4.26pm local time.
Another witness has claimed she saw Liam at the same time becoming “upset” by an email on the laptop screen.
The witness, known as Rebecca, claims he shouted “f**k this s**t mate” before smashing the laptop on the ground, reports Mail Online.
Another photo then shows Liam by the hotel lift just minutes later at 4.28pm.
Liam’s fatal fall took place around at around 5pm. Cops were called to the hotel at 5.04pm, and after an ambulance arrived at 5.11pm, he was declared dead.
Watson went on to say how he and others saw Liam “causing a disturbance” minutes before he died.
He told ITV Liam appeared to “pass out” in the lobby before he “had to be physically taken back up to his room”.
He said: “So we’re here with a couple of other guests in the hotel and we were in the lobby just waiting for some people to arrive and that’s when we had multiple encounters with Liam.
“Multiple times [Liam] had come down to the lobby, was causing a disturbance, kept being escorted back up to his room.”
A 911 call from hotel staff on Wednesday revealed they needed “urgent assistance” from cops to help with a guest “behaving erratically”.
Recordings from the 911 calls made by the head of reception show them reporting “a guest who is destroying everything in his room”.
In a second appeal for help the receptionist said: “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.”
It comes as…
- Liam’s phone key to solving death mystery – as cops hunt drug dealer
- Liam may have been ‘unconscious’ as he fell from balcony
- Emotional tributes are made by Niall Horan & Harry Styles
- Hotel guests heard ‘violent noises & scream’
- ‘We let you down’ says Sharon Osbourne
- Liam was ‘dropped by his record label’ days before he died
- Simon Cowell steps down from BGT after Liam’s death
- ‘I lost a brother’ says Zayn Malik as he shares tribute
- Louis Tomlinson says he’s ‘devastated’ by Liam’s death
Cops probing Liam’s tragic death have reportedly spoken with two key witnesses who may have been the last people to see him alive.
Argentina’s prosecutor’s office said two women who were allegedly with Liam Payne the night before his untimely death have now provided statements.
It is understood that both women then left the Hotel CasaSur without him after waiting for the Brit in the lobby on Wednesday, Argentine outlet Infobae reports.
While police haven’t given any indication that they were involved in his death, the women could help determine what happened in the hours before.
There is no indication that the women could be involved in any way in the star’s fatal fall.
Investigators reportedly seized bottle of whiskey, a lighter, a phone and a notebook found in the pop star’s suite, according to Infobae.
Troubling images have emerged showing white powder, burnt aluminium foil and a smashed TV screen inside Liam’s hotel room.
Several photos show inside the former One Direction singer’s luxury suite at the upmarket Hotel CasaSur Palermo.
They appear to show traces of a white powder and burnt aluminium foil in the bathroom and living area.
A green lighter and a container of Dove soap is also sat on what looks like a messy table in the trashed room.
One Direction statements in full
We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing. In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say.
But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.
The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us.
We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam. – Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry.
Louis Tomlinson wrote: “His experience from a young age, his perfect pitch, his stage presence, his gift for writing. The list goes on.
“Thank you for shaping us Liam.
“I want you to know that if Bear ever needs me I will be the Uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was.
“I wish I got a chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you.”
Zayn Malik said: “Liam I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me, I can’t help but think selfishly that there was so many more conversations for us to have in our lives.
“I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life.
“When I was missing home as a 17-year-old kid, you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know you were my friend and that I was loved.”
He added: “When it came to the music, Liam, you were the most qualified in every sense.
“I knew nothing in comparison, I was a novice child with no experience and you were already a professional.
“I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly.
“I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever”.
And Harry Styles wrote: “I am truly devastated by Liam’s passing.
“His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it.
“Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious.
“He was warm, supportive, and incredibly loving.
“The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend.
“My heart breaks for Karen, Geoff, Nicola and Ruth, his son Bear, and all those around the world who knew and loved him, as I did.”