Liam Payne’s dad is reportedly refusing to leave Argentina until his son is returned “back where he belongs”.
Officials in Argentina have yet to release the singer’s body pending final pathology tests. However, they anticipate the results will be available soon.
A source told the Mirror: “Liam’s loved ones just want him home, back where he belongs among his family. As they await the pathologist to finish their tests, behind the scenes, they have been tackling the logistics about how best to get his body back to the UK.
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“There are no direct commercial flights between Buenos Aires and London, but naturally, they want the flight to have the least stops and interruptions possible. But Geoff is determined to accompany his son home.”
(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
The family is considering chartering a private jet, despite few having the range to cover the 6,915-mile journey on one tank of fuel. News of his repatriation comes as thousands of fans worldwide, known as Directioners, gathered in cities including London, New York, Paris, Stockholm and Colombia to mourn the star’s untimely death.
As they commemorated his passing, fans brought flowers, heartfelt messages, and songs from the boy band. Devotees assembled at the Peter Pan statue in Hyde Park, London, and the Tuileries Garden in Paris.
Tragically, Liam met his end after plummeting from the balcony of his third-floor suite at the CasaSur Hotel in Palmero, Buenos Aires.
(Image: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Prior to his fatal fall last Wednesday, he was observed behaving unusually in the hotel lobby by other guests. Post his fall, police discovered the prescription drug clonazepam, energy supplements and other over-the-counter medications strewn across the suite, along with “various items broken.”
A whiskey bottle, lighter and mobile phone were later retrieved from the hotel’s internal courtyard, where Liam’s body was found.
Images from inside his room revealed what seems to be extensive drug paraphernalia and a shattered television. Liam, who had travelled to Argentina to watch his bandmate Niall Horan perform live, reportedly had to prolong his stay after his US visa application was initially denied.
US Embassy officials reportedly demanded that he submit to a drug test to confirm his sobriety. A source said to the Mirror: “Knowing he needed to pass the test, Liam kept away from everything. He didn’t touch a thing and was clean when he presented himself for testing.”
The visa was given the green light, with plans to stamp his passport just last Friday, mere days before his unfortunate passing.
* If you, or someone you know, have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can seek help and information from the Samaritans by dialling 116 123.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
