One Direction star Liam Payne had multiple drugs in his system when he fell to his death from a hotel balcony, including a potent combination called "pink cocaine," a partial autopsy found.
The new details shed some light on what led to Payne's tragic demise at 31 years of age at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The boy band singer had a potent mix of drugs in his system, including "pink cocaine" - a term for a cocktail of methamphetamine, ketamine, MDMA and other psychoactive drugs – as well as cocaine, benzodiazepine and crack.
An improvised aluminum pipe, used for smoking drugs, was found in Payne's hotel room - which was in a state of complete disarray, with drugs everywhere and the TV smashed up.
Payne reportedly was accompanied by sex workers shortly before his death, but prosecutors say he was alone in the room before his fatal fall.
Moments before he died, the hotel called the police to ask for help with a guest who was potentially in life-threatening danger.
"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," the worker told emergency services.
Minutes later, Payne's body was found in the hotel's inner courtyard.
The preliminary autopsy found that Payne died from "multiple traumas" and "internal and external bleeding." Investigators believe Payne was not fully conscious because he did not adopt a "reflexive posture" to cushion the fall.
"Due to the position in which the body was found and the injuries from the fall, it is presumed that Payne did not adopt a reflexive posture to protect himself and may have fallen in a state of semi or total unconsciousness," the preliminary autopsy said.
Police have interviewed a hotel employee suspected of providing drugs to Payne the day he died. The person has not been charged.
Payne's body will not be returned to his family until the autopsy is complete.
"We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we'll remember him for his kind, funny, and brave soul. We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time," his family said in a statement.
Payne leaves behind a 7-year-old son, Bear, whom he shares with singer Cheryl Cole.
