Report: Liam Payne's body to be repatriated from Argentina this week

Arrangements for the funeral honouring the life of One Direction singer Liam Payne are in the final stages, with the late musician’s body expected to be repatriated to the United Kingdom this week.

Reporting by the MailOnline website said that the 31-year-old singer’s body, which has been held in Buenos Aires since his death last month, will be repatriated this week.

A large celebration of Payne’s life will take place in his hometown, with family, friends and thousands of fans expected to attend, reported the website. 

The late singer’s father, Geoff Payne, remains in Buenos Aires, awaiting the release of his son's body. His has been assisted by staff from the British Embassy.

“Liam's body is expected to be flown home any day now,” a close friend of the former One Direction star told the news outlet. “Arrangements are in place for that now and once his body is back in Britain the next step will be to announce the funeral plan.”

“'Liam will have a very big send off, quite probably at a large cathedral somewhere close to his heart,” the source told MailOnline. 

Payne, who found fame with global chart-toppers One Direction, tragically died at the Hotel CasaSur in Buenos Aires on October 16 after falling from a third-floor balcony.

Prosecutors believe that the singer was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time and may have plunged from the balcony in a state of “semi or total unconsciousness.”

Preliminary results of expert tests determined the presence of cocaine in his body, multiple outlets reported.

– TIMES/PERFIL