Emergency services were called Wednesday evening in order to deal with a man acting erratically and perhaps under the influence, Alberto Crescenti, the director of SAME, Buenos Aires Emergency Medical Services told ABC News.
Payne's body was found in the inner courtyard of the hotel where he was pronounced dead on the scene, according to Crescenti.
Crescenti told local Argentinian media outlet TN that Payne fell 13 to 14 meters, the equivalent of about 42 to 45 feet, describing the injuries as "very serious" and "incompatible with life."
Crescenti added emergency services arrived at the scene at 5:11 p.m. local time, seven minutes after they received the emergency services call. Crescenti also told the outlet there was no possibility of trying to save the man, whose identity was only discovered after he was confirmed dead.
The English singer was 31.
Fans of Liam Payne gather outside Buenos Aires hotel where singer fell to death
Payne was staying at the hotel CasaSur in Palermo, Buenos Aires, according to police.
Crescenti declined to answer further questions about the incident, including whether Payne jumped from the balcony or fell by accident.
Crescenti told Argentina's Todo Noticias TV channel that authorities were investigating the circumstances of his death and conducting an autopsy. Argentine media reported that Payne was in Buenos Aires to attend the concert of his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan.
Payne joined One Direction at the group's inception in 2010 after appearing on the show "X Factor." The group also included Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson.
Since the band announced its hiatus in 2015, Payne began a solo career, releasing the song "Strip That Down" in 2017 and the album "LP1" in 2019.
The singer shared a YouTube video in 2023 in which he revealed he had been sober for six months after spending nearly 100 days at a Louisiana rehab facility.
When he was 29, Payne said he had "more of a grip on life" now that he's taken time for himself after becoming "somebody who I didn't really recognize anymore."
The singer said he was channeling his energy into being a better dad for his son, Bear, who he shared with singer Cheryl Cole.
Payne released the song "Teardrops" in March, which he said on Instagram was "born from many tears, not all mine."
"I hope you love it like I do and not too many of you can relate," he added.
The Associated Press contributed to this report