Eyewitness describes 'state of shock' after Salmond collapse

A antheral who witnessed Alex Salmond illness during luncheon astatine an lawsuit successful North Macedonia has said that "time stopped".

Youth league organiser Mark Donfried said Scotland's erstwhile archetypal curate was caught by a chap delegate arsenic helium fell backwards successful his seat aft suffering what is thought to person been a monolithic bosom attack.

The lawsuit was cancelled arsenic paramedics tried successful vain to resuscitate Salmond.

Tributes person poured successful from crossed the governmental spectrum pursuing the erstwhile SNP leader's decease connected Saturday astatine the property of 69.

Swinney, who served arsenic concern caput portion Salmond was archetypal minister, said helium took the enactment from the fringes of Scottish authorities to the bosom of government.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described Salmond arsenic a "monumental fig of Scottish and UK politics", portion King Charles paid tribute to his "devotion to Scotland" during decades of nationalist service.

Floral tributes person been near extracurricular the Scottish Parliament and Salmond's location successful Strichen, Aberdeenshire.

The erstwhile SNP person was Scotland's archetypal curate betwixt 2007 and 2014, and successful caller years led the Alba party.

Mr Donfried, enforcement laminitis and manager astatine the Academy for Cultural Diplomacy (ACD), said Salmond had been an "active member" of his organisation.

He told BBC Scotland News: "For galore of the young leaders present helium was truly a relation exemplary and helium inspired galore of them."

Speaking from Ohrid successful North Macedonia, helium said: "We are each inactive successful a authorities of daze and that is not thing we tin easy determination guardant from."

Mr Donfried said Salmond had delivered a code astatine the league connected Friday past attended meal that evening wherever helium discussed plans for an ACD lawsuit successful Scotland adjacent year.

He said the erstwhile MP and MSP had seemed successful the "best of health, the champion of spirits".

But the pursuing time during luncheon aft a sheet discussion, Salmond took sick and mislaid consciousness astatine the table.

Mr Donfried raced to the edifice reception to petition an ambulance.

He added: "By the clip I came backmost helium was connected the level and they were trying CPR."

When paramedics arrived determination was thing that could beryllium done to prevention him.

The Interior Ministry of North Macedonia confirmed Salmond passed distant astatine 15:30 section clip (14:30 BST).

Mr Donfried said helium had been told the origin of decease was suspected to beryllium an "immediate monolithic bosom attack".

"The bully quality is helium didn't suffer. I don't deliberation helium felt immoderate pain."

Describing the aftermath, helium said: "Really clip stopped. The full hotel, the full league was successful shock.

"Most of the participants present were young leaders and nary of them had ever experienced thing similar this.

"I deliberation determination was a feeling of shock, a feeling of nonaccomplishment and of not truly knowing what to do."

Those attending the lawsuit gathered aboriginal to stock reflections and springiness acknowledgment and prayers for Salmond's life.

Mr Donfried recited a supplication that was shared during his precocious father's funeral.

"That was important for america all, to person a infinitesimal to travel unneurotic and intermission successful honour of Alex."

He added that Salmond, the person of the Alba party, was "a large person who inspired truthful many".

Mr Donfried said: "I was speaking to immoderate of the Spanish participants past nighttime and they were talking astir however successful Spain helium is, successful truthful galore ways, a legend."

He said ACD, which is based successful Berlin, had received galore messages from crossed the satellite since Salmond's abrupt death.

Mr Donfried said the organisation was successful adjacent interaction with the British Embassy and that the repatriation of Salmond's assemblage whitethorn impact the Royal Air Force.

He added: "Our hearts are each going retired to Alex's family."