Liam Payne's health problems have been revealed – from struggles as a baby to mental health issues – as the One Direction star is found dead aged just 31

Former One Direction star Liam Payne has died aged just 31, police said last night.

The multi-award-winning singer fell from the third floor into the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires before medics confirmed his death.

Payne rose to fame at the age of 16 after forming the boy band on The X Factor in 2010 alongside Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Harry Styles.

Despite coming third on the show, the group achieved worldwide fame, selling 70 million records worldwide and topping the charts worldwide.

But the popular star was no stranger to health issues, which he spoke openly about throughout his all-too-brief career.

He suffered two major scares, one of which resulted in him receiving 32 injections in his arm every day.

Payne rose to fame at the age of 16 after forming the boy band on The X Factor in 2010 alongside Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Harry Styles

(From left) Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne in 2010

Liam Payne arrives at a film premiere at the Odeon Leicester Square in November 2010

Born early and endless medical tests as a child

In the band's 2011 biography Dare to Dream – Life as One Direction, Liam admitted: “When I was born I was practically dead.”

In the book, which documents the group's rollercoaster ride to superstardom, he added: “The doctors couldn't get a response from me so I had to be brought in and although I seemed fine, there were underlying problems. “

“I was born three weeks early and was constantly sick.

“From the age of zero to four I was constantly in hospital having check-ups but they couldn't figure out what was wrong.

“They discovered that one of my kidneys was not functioning properly and had scarring.

“I had to have 32 injections in my arm morning and evening to try and get better.

“I still have both kidneys, but one isn't working, so I have to be careful not to drink too much, including water, and I have to keep myself as healthy as possible.”

A heartbreaking video shows Liam Payne singing and dancing with his former bandmate Niall Horan, where he later posted a picture with Horan on Snapchat with the caption “Reunited.”

One of Liam Payne's recent selfies in Buenos Aires was captioned: “Beautiful day in Argentina”

Tour canceled after severe kidney infection

Last year, the Story of My Life singer was hospitalized in “excruciating pain” due to severe kidney pain.

He became ill while celebrating his one-year anniversary with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy on holiday at Lake Como.

Just a month earlier, he had had to postpone his South American tour due to a “severe kidney infection”.

“It is with a heavy heart that I must tell you that we have no choice but to postpone my upcoming tour of South America,” he wrote at the time.

“I wouldn’t wish that on anyone and the doctors tell me I need to rest and recover now.”

The painful and uncomfortable condition can cause fever, back pain and burning during urination.

If left untreated, it can cause permanent kidney damage.

Common bladder infection, also called cystitis, is often the cause of a kidney infection.

The initial infection can be caused by a type of bacteria entering the urethra, a tube that carries urine out of your body.

Although most people who get a bladder infection do not develop a kidney infection, sometimes bacteria from the bladder enter the kidneys.

Last year, the Story of My Life singer was hospitalized in “excruciating pain” due to severe kidney pain. He fell ill while celebrating his one-year anniversary on holiday at Lake Como with girlfriend Kate Cassidy (pictured).

(From left) One Direction's Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles in 2015

Open about his struggle with alcohol

In July 2023, Liam revealed that he had spent 100 days in rehab in Louisiana after hitting “rock bottom.”

During his three-month stay at the center, he had minimal contact with the outside world and spent much time focusing on art and poetry.

“Turning the phone back on was a little scary,” he told fans in a video. “I was trying to get to know this new man.”

He also addressed controversial comments he made about his former band members on YouTube star Logan Paul's Impaulsive podcast in 2022.

He expressed regret, adding: “I shot at everyone else… it seemed really cocky.”

“I would like to apologize for that.”

Liam thanked his then six-year-old son Bear and his ex-girlfriend and Bear's mother, Cheryl, for supporting his decision to get healthy.

He added that his former bandmates “stood by me” and “came to my rescue.”

In remarks to Men's Health Australia in 2019, Liam also explained how difficult it was for him to become famous and often resorted to alcohol to cope.

“It's almost like putting on the Disney costume before you go on stage, and under the Disney costume I was pissed most of the time because there was no other way to understand what was going on,” said he.

“I mean, it was fun. We had a blast, but there were certain places where it was just a little bit toxic.'

Cheryl and Liam Payne at the Brit Awards 2018 at the O2 Arena in London

Dark thoughts but committed to recovery

The “What Makes You Beautiful” singer had also spoken openly about his mental health and drug problems, admitting to having “severe suicidal thoughts” and heavy drug use during his time in One Direction.

In the Diary of a CEO podcast in 2021, he told host Stephen Bartlett: “I was worried about how far down I would go.”

“Where is the bottom for me? And you would never have seen it. I'm very good at hiding it. Nobody would have ever seen it.

“There are some things I've definitely never, ever talked about.

“It was really, really, really bad.” And it was a problem. And it wasn't until I looked at it that I thought, “Right, I need to fix myself.”

He also spoke of seeing pictures of himself looking “all bloated” on a boat, describing his appearance at the time as his “pills and alcohol face.”

He added: “My face was about ten times bigger than it is now. 'I just didn't like myself very much, and then I made a change.'