Witness details Liam Payne's troubling final moments before fatal fall in Buenos Aires

A hotel guest has revealed the disturbing behavior of former One Direction star Liam Payne in the hours leading up to his tragic death, providing insight into his final moments at a Buenos Aires hotel.

Payne, 31, tragically died after falling from a third-story balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Argentina on Wednesday.

Rebecca, a guest staying at the hotel for a friend's wedding, recounted her encounter with the singer to The Daily Mail. She described how Payne appeared to be craving attention when she first saw him in the hotel lobby.

"It was so clear he wanted someone to recognize him," she said. According to Rebecca, the singer was waiting near the elevator and behaving in a "desperate" manner as though he was seeking validation.

Although she and her friends recognized Payne, they decided to respect his privacy and did not approach him.

However, Payne abruptly introduced himself to them, saying, "Yes, I'm Liam!" and then invited them to join him in the elevator with a strange comment, "I love a cuddle."

Rebecca opted to wait for the next elevator, while some of her friends rode with him.

Erratic Behavior Escalates Before Tragedy

During the ride, Payne made unsettling remarks to the group, commenting on their American nationality and making an odd joke, saying, "You guys are f**king crazy! You guys are fking dangerous!"

According to Rebecca, Payne then began "fake-choking" a woman who seemed to be with him, which alarmed the others. Though done playfully, the gesture came off as disturbing to those present.

Just minutes later, Rebecca saw Payne again in the hotel lobby, this time carrying his laptop. She noticed the device was set to speak aloud as he moved the cursor-something she believed was another cry for attention.

After reading an email, Payne grew visibly upset and threw the laptop to the ground while shouting, "Fk this st, mate!" This outburst left nearby guests stunned.

Rebecca attempted to check on Payne, asking if he was okay, but he responded with a cryptic comment, "I used to be in a boy band. That's why I'm so f**ked up."

A British friend of Payne later approached Rebecca, apologizing for his behavior and explaining that Payne "just gets so high sometimes."

Tragic Fall and Payne's Final Hours

Rebecca described Payne's behavior as erratic and aggressive, noting that he appeared to be intoxicated with dilated pupils and slurred speech.

His final moments in the hotel lobby were marked by a fall where he tripped and landed face-first on the ground.

Hotel staff rushed to help him back into the elevator, and Rebecca captured what would be the last photograph of Payne alive, showing him speaking with two women as his friend held the elevator door.

Shortly after, Payne fell from the third-story balcony of his hotel room into the courtyard below.

According to Rebecca, her friends witnessed the fall and initially thought Payne may have survived with injuries, but the reality soon set in when hotel staff scrambled to the scene.

Payne was pronounced dead upon impact, suffering from a cranial fracture and internal injuries, which led to his immediate death.

Authorities later discovered alcohol and controlled substances in Payne's trashed hotel room.

His sudden and tragic passing has left the world in shock, with his former One Direction bandmates-Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson-issuing a statement expressing their heartbreak over the loss of their "brother."

"We're completely devastated by the news of Liam's passing," they said. "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."