Liam Payne's preliminary cause of death revealed: Officials cite 'polytrauma'

Liam Payne's preliminary cause of death has been revealed.

The National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office No. 16 in Argentina announced in a press release Thursday that the One Direction singer died from "polytrauma" and "internal and external hemorrhage" after falling from his third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death, they said in the release translated from Spanish to English, but prosecutors believe Payne was alone when the fall occurred.

Prosecutors say that minutes before the death of Payne, one-fifth of the famed British boy band, hotel workers "called the 911 emergency line to ask for help for a guest who was under the influence of drugs and alcohol and who had destroyed some objects in the room."

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Prosecutors said the autopsy was conducted based on five witness statements from three hotel staff members and two women who were with the musician in his room but who say they left the hotel before the singer's death.

According to the statement, Payne's body was transferred to a morgue, where an autopsy was performed late Wednesday night and the forensic experts found that "25 injuries described in the autopsy are compatible with those caused by a fall from a height."

TMZ, that graphic Liam Payne photoand the damage it caused

Prosecutors said that his brain injuries were "enough to cause death," while "internal and external bleeding" in the head and upper body also contributed to his death.

In a previous statement, the capital police added they were called to the hotel in the capital's Palermo neighborhood where they were notified of an "aggressive man who could be under the effects of drugs and alcohol." Buenos Aires police said Payne's fall resulted in "extremely serious injuries," and he was confirmed to be dead at the scene, according to The Associated Press.

Alberto Crescenti, head of Buenos Aires' public emergency medical services, confirmed Payne's death in a statement to local media, per Todo Noticias and La Nacion.

In a 911 call obtained by Reuters on Thursday, the hotel's reception head can be heard, in Spanish, calling for medical assistance for "a guest who is intoxicated by drugs and alcohol." When the guest had been "conscious," he was "breaking the whole room," the hotel staff member also said on the 911 call.

The operator then confirmed the hotel's location before the staff member added: "We need you to send someone urgently because, well, I don't know if the guest's life is at risk. He has a room with a balcony. And, well, we are a little afraid that he will do something that will put his life at risk."

Payne earned global fame as part of the since-disbanded pop group One Direction, alongside Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson and later as a solo artist with his hit single "Strip That Down" featuring Quavo.

Payne auditioned twice for the U.K. reality program "The X-Factor" before being launched into superstardom. He advanced after auditioning in 2008 and 2010 and was cut both times. However, in 2010, he was saved from elimination when Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger and Louis Walsh folded him into a band with fellow teen solo artists Styles, Horan, Tomlinson and Malik.

After their first single "What Makes You Beautiful" became a worldwide hit, the group – who placed third on "X Factor" – released their debut album "Up All Night." As they released four more records, they sold out arenas and stadiums around the world during the four headlining tours and scored Top 10 hits including "Story of My Life," which Payne co-wrote, "Best Song Ever" and "Drag Me Down."

On Thursday, One Direction members took to social media to pay tribute to Payne.

This story has been updated to include additional information.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use disorders, you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). The service is free, confidential and available in English and Spanish.

Contributing: KiMi Robinson, Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY