Alex Salmond died of a suspected heart attack while attending a conference in Macedonia, with witnesses unable to save him despite their best efforts, it has been claimed.
The former Scottish First Minister, 69, was confirmed to have died on Saturday, while he was abroad attending a conference in Ohrid. He is believed to have collapsed while eating his lunch, with the horrified witnesses who tried desperately to save him saying they believed he had suffered a heart attack.
While a funeral is yet to take place, a memorial was organised for the politician in the Balkan country led by the former President of North Macedonia, the Daily Mail reports. Gjorge Ivanov delivered a speech touching on Mr Salmond’s life and work. His wife Moira, 87, is not believed to have been with him when he died.
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Academy for Cultural Diplomacy)
Political heavyweights, former colleagues and heads of state have come forward with tributes for the former FM, among them his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Ms Sturgeon led tributes to the man she called her “mentor”, adding that, despite their fraught relationship he was a “significant figure” in her life.
She said: “I am shocked and sorry to learn of Alex Salmond’s death. Obviously, I cannot pretend that the events of the past few years which led to the breakdown of our relationship did not happen, and it would not be right for me to try. However, it remains the fact that for many years Alex was an incredibly significant figure in my life.
“He was my mentor, and for more than a decade we formed one of the most successful partnerships in UK politics.” In his own statement, Sir Keir dubbed the Scotsman a “monumental figure of Scottish and UK politics”, adding: “He leaves behind a lasting legacy. As First Minister of Scotland he cared deeply about Scotland’s heritage, history, and culture, as well as the communities he represented as MP and MSP over many years of service.”
The latest tribute to Mr Salmond came from his family, with a statement issued via Scottish Alba, the political party he founded after leaving office. The family said he was a “formidable politician” who “dedicated his life to the cause he believed in – independence for Scotland”.