According to media outlets in Argentina, where the late former One Direction singer Liam Payne tragically passed away last month, his body will be repatriated to the UK within the next 36 hours. The Sun newspaper has reported that Payne's funeral will be held this week at St Paul’s Cathedral in Wolverhampton, the hometown where he grew up and nurtured his dreams.
The 31-year-old singer's life came to a premature end on October 16 when he fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. Following the heart-wrenching incident, Payne's father, Geoff, swiftly traveled to the Argentine capital. He visited the city morgue and the hotel, pausing to acknowledge the flowers and tributes left by fans outside. He also engaged warmly with them, sharing his grief and memories.
The Sun further reveals that the investigation into Payne's untimely demise spanned two weeks. Prosecutors issued a statement indicating their belief that during a substance-induced episode, Payne was in a state of semi or total unconsciousness when he fell.
Payne achieved fame as a member of One Direction, the pop group formed by Simon Cowell on The X-Factor UK Season 7 in 2010. The band, which also featured Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik, released five studio albums between 2011 and 2015. Each album achieved platinum status in the US and topped or reached the number two spot on charts both in the US and the UK, while also making the Top 10 globally.
One Direction scored four number one singles in the UK, including their debut "What Makes You Beautiful," "Little Things," "One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)" – which Payne directed the video for – and "Drag Me Down." Five other singles reached the number two spot in the country, cementing their status as one of the top-selling boy bands of all time.
