Liam Payne's final moments captured on social media just 45 minutes before tragic death in Argentina

Tragic news has come to light as it has been reported that One Direction's Liam Payne died in Argentina. Before his sudden passing, he had posted a carefree photo of himself without a shirt, accompanied by his girlfriend in a black bikini whilst in Argentina.

Liam was actively chatting with fans through Snapchat, sharing glimpses of his personal moments in the hours leading up to his death. He shared a snapshot of his morning routine where he and his girlfriend Kate Cassidy were having breakfast; Liam described them as "enjoying coffee" around 1pm.

During his update on Snapchat, Liam spoke about their plans for the day which included horse riding and the possibility of playing Polo once again, sharing candidly that the sport was "hard to do". He even humorously hinted at the physical toll it takes, mentioning the potential neck and back pain from swinging the mallet.

READ MORE: Liam Payne - from boyhood dreams on X Factor to the biggest boyband in the world - fans mourn tragic death

At age 31, the untimely demise of Liam Payne occurred in Argentina following a fall from the fourth floor of a hotel, reports the Express US.

The former One Direction star, who was just 31 years old, also conveyed his love for art to his audience of 1.32 million subscribers, displaying some of the artwork he came across. Adding to his social media activity, he uploaded a picture showing a black dog resting snugly between his legs, asking fans to "caption this."

All these posts appeared a mere 45 minutes before the heartbreaking news of his death emerged. He was staying in the Palermo district of Buenos Aires when, as local reports suggest, he took a fatal fall from the fourth floor of his hotel. Currently, it is still unknown whether his death was accidental or self-inflicted, and investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Eyewitnesses told TMZ that the singer was acting erratically before his untimely death, with reports of him even damaging his laptop. He allegedly had to be guided from the hotel's lobby back to his room.

Liam featured as one-fifth of the popular boy band One Direction alongside Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, and Harry Styles.

The group was formed during the 2010 series of the TV talent show 'X Factor', an idea conceived by music moguls Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger. The ensemble faced upheaval in 2015 when Zayn made an abrupt departure, which led to the band announcing a "hiatus."

Crowds of fans in their hundreds have been lighting candles outside the hotel in tribute to the singer. Some hugged each other and cried, while others, in a sign of their adoration for the One Direction star, burst into applause.

In a beautiful display of unity fans embraced each other on the street as Liam's body was taken away in a police van. Candles have been lit and placed in the street to pay tribute to the popstar. No doubt as dawn breaks more fans will line the streets to pay their respects.