Liam Payne’s body could take weeks to be returned to grieving family after his death as cops await result of key tests

LIAM Payne’s body could take weeks to be returned to his grieving family and be laid to rest in the UK, it has been claimed.

The One Direction star, 31, tragically fell to his death from the third floor of his hotel in Buenos Aires on Wednesday.

Reuters

A distraught Geoff Payne, Liam Payne’s dad, waves to fans outside the hotel in Argentina[/caption]

Getty

Geoff looks down at the masses of flowers, cards and candles left out to honour his son Liam[/caption]

Reuters

One of Liam Payne’s last posts was a Snapchat video[/caption]

Liam’s devastated dad has been reportedly trying to get his son’s body back home in the UK as soon as possible.

But sources close to the investigation reportedly told Argentine newspaper Clarín that the singer’s body will remain in the country “between 10 and 15 days” as cops are still waiting for key test results.

Sources from the British Embassy told the outlet: “We are supporting Liam Payne’s family and are in contact with local authorities.”

Prosecutor Marcelo Roma is awaiting the results of the additional toxicological tests after receiving the autopsy’s preliminary results.

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It comes as…

• Liam Payne’s devastated sister Ruth breaks silence in emotional statement
• Cheryl Cole’s mum & friends rally around her
• Britain’s Got Talent auditions resume as Bruno Tonioli replaces Simon Cowell
• Molly-Mae reveals friendship with Liam Payne in emotional statement
• Liam’s devastated dad ‘trying to bring his son’s body home’
• The star spent £10,000 in one night helping people on GoFundMe
• How Liam healed his One Direction rifts

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The musician was suspected of being drugged and drunk, based on the testimony of people who saw him at the hotel and the evidence the police gathered.

To that end, the prosecutor asked that histopathological, biochemical, and toxicological studies be conducted, which were also completed during the autopsy.

The results can take 10 to 15 days, so Liam’s body is expected to be available to his relatives after the final autopsy results are received.

Liam’s loved ones made a desperate dash to South America late on Wednesday night just hours after learning the heartbreaking news.

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Liam, pictured above with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy[/caption]

Footage taken outside the Casa Sur hotel on Friday showed a sombre Geoff Payne bending down to read messages written to his son.

The distraught, bleary-eyed dad waved to Liam’s fans as he took in the touching display.

Dressed in a dark suit with his hands clasped in front of him, Geoff was shielded by police and security from dozens of fans and reporters.

Geoff Payne went into the Forensic Medical Corps judicial mortuary in Balvanera at around 3pm on Friday to identify his son’s body, Clarin reports.

Geoff is said to have asked permission to enter Liam’s room at the Hotel CasaSur Palermo to remove his son’s belongings.

Champagne, prescription drugs, white powder and foil wraps were all found in Liam’s trashed hotel room after the fatal fall at around 5pm (9pm UK time).

Fellow hotel guests revealed the star had been acting in a “disturbing” manner shortly before his fall, with Liam admitting to one woman: “I used to be in a boy band – that’s why I’m so f**ked up.”

Reuters

Fans have left a shrine of tributes to Liam Payne outside the CasaSur Hotel in Buenos Aires[/caption]

AP

A drone view showing the pool area at the hotel where Liam tragically died[/caption]