Liam Payne Came ‘Close To Death’ From Drugs, Heroin Use, Friend Claims

As part of Liam Paynedeath investigation, the singer’s friend Roger Nores testified about his drug history.

“I was a friend who loved him very much, helped him selflessly in everything I could, spent my own money to help him, and even then it wasn’t enough,” Nores wrote in a recent court filing obtained by Rolling Stone. “I do not consider that I deserve the accusation that is being leveled at me.”

Nores had been accused of abandoning Payne before his death. The One Direction singer, who was 31 years old, suffered a fatal fall from the balcony of a third story hotel in Argentina in October. An autopsy revealed that Payne had suffered multiple injuries and had various drugs in his system.

Payne had been honest before his struggles with substance abuse and previous visits to rehabilitation facilities. Nores detailed his knowledge of Payne’s history in the court filing, which is not a deposition.

Related: 5 Men to be Questioned at Inquest into Liam Payne’s Death Later This Month

HUGO/MEGA Investigators are looking for answers about what led to Liam Payne’s death. On October 16, 2024, the former One Direction member fell to his death from a balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires. He was 31 years old. Press release translated by the public prosecutor of Argentina on November 7, 2024, (…)

“Due to his addiction, Payne continued to attend rehab centers of his own free will in an attempt to overcome it,” Nores said. “Unfortunately, these treatments were not successful and his addiction worsened as he began to use harder drugs, such as heroin.”

Citing one incident in September 2023, Nores claimed that Payne “suffered from severe intoxication that left him close to death”, and was apparently left in hospital in Milan. Nores further claimed that Payne had been hospitalized twice in London later that year.

“Professionals had to resort to CPR to save his life, without his family or friends being able to do anything to avoid these situations or help him,” the documents add.

According to Nores, Payne’s addiction struggles began to worsen.

“Liam suffered a new relapse in his addiction, so he was taken to hospital again in a serious condition, and the professionals had to resort to resuscitation maneuvers to save his life,” claimed Nores, adding that only it was now that Payne started using drugs again. August this year.

Nores further denied abandoning Payne knowing the musician was unable to take care of himself, repeating comments he made last month.

“I never abandoned Liam. I went to his hotel 3 times that day and left 40 minutes before this happened,” Nores he told the Daily Mail in November. “There were over 15 people in the hotel lobby chatting and joking with him when I left. I could never have imagined that something like this would happen.”

He added at the time, “I wasn’t Liam’s manager; he was just my very dear friend … I am heartbroken by this tragedy, and I have been missing my friend every day.”

There was Payne was laid to rest in November after his body was returned to his native England. His parents, his sisters and his 7-year-old son, who he shares with an ex Cheryl Cole.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).