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Alex Salmond’s family pays tribute to ‘loving husband and fiercely loyal brother’ - Eyewitness describes moment of ‘helplessness’ and ‘shock’ when Alex Salmond collapsed
- Salmond was having lunch when he suddenly fell, director of event in North Macedonia said
- Veteran Tory David Davis has called for the RAF to fly Alex Salmond’s body back to Scotland
- Flags were flown at half-mast at Holyrood in tribute
- Nicola Sturgeon paid a bittersweet tribute to her ‘mentor’ despite breakdown in relationship
People were left “paralysed” in a state of “helplessness and shock” when Scotland’s former first minister Alex Salmond collapsed during lunch on Saturday.
The 69-year-old was in North Macedonia taking part in a youth cultural and diplomatic event in the city of Ohrid when he suffered a suspected “massive heart attack”.
Mark Donfried, director of the Academy for Cultural Diplomacy, who organised the event told STV News that he was having lunch with Salmond, other delegates and Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, chair of the Alba Party.
Academy for Cultural Diplomacy“Suddenly, he fell back in his chair,” Mr Donfried said.
“The former CEO of the stock exchange in Cyprus was next to him, he basically embraced him.
“I then ran immediately for reception to get an ambulance.
“Everyone was paralysed… It was a very eerie feeling, this entire hotel, the conference standing in place”
Mark Donfried, director of the Academy for Cultural Diplomacy
“By the time I came back, they had thrown the tables and everything away. He was laying on the floor and they were trying as hard as they could with CPR.”
Mr Donfried said paramedics arrived and for another 20 to 30 minutes, they attempted to revive him with CPR and a defibrillator.
“I’m still replaying the images in my mind almost non-stop,” Mr Donfried told STV News.
Academy for Cultural Diplomacy“In that moment, really everyone was paralysed. It was a very eerie feeling, this entire hotel, the conference standing in place.
“There was a sense of helplessness, a sense of shock.”
Mr Donfried said Salmond gave “excellent participation” at the panel discussion on Friday.
STV News“He was really in the best of spirits, the best of health.
“He was a great man who we all looked up to and so we’re still all in a state of shock.
“Last night, we had a brief moment of reflection on his legacy.
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Salmond’s hometown of Strichen pays tribute
“There was a humility with Alex, he had an authenticity, it was amazing to see how he’d touched individuals he had only known for a few days.”
A veteran Tory MP has told the foreign secretary the RAF should fly Salmond’s body back to Scotland.
David Davis, friend of the Alba Party leader, contacted David Lammy to say the Royal Air Force should repatriate Salmond.
EBU
Former North Macedonia President Gjorge Ivanov sent his condolences to Salmond’s “family and loved ones in this difficult time”.
The President of North Macedonia Gordana Siljanovska Davkova led a commemoration ceremony in memory of Salmond on Saturday night.
Gordana Siljanovska DavkovaAlex Salmond’s last speech
Salmond participated in a panel discussion on Friday morning at the Ohrid Cultural Diplomacy Forum 2024.
He spoke about both the Scottish independence referendum and the Brexit vote, with a focus on reconcilliation in the wake of a democratic process that may have a divisive result.
“My general message is respect for democratic, legitimate democratic aspirations leads to good outcomes,” he said.
“Disrespecting it in one way or another, and often surprisingly, can lead to bad outcomes for everyone.”
STV NewsSalmond served as the first minister from 2007 to 2014 and was a prominent figure in Scotland’s nationalist movement.
Salmond’s Alba Party said it “grieves the loss of our founder and Leader”, adding that the “dream he cherished so closely, and came so close to delivering, will never die.”
At the Scottish Parliament on Sunday, flags were flown at half-mast in tribute.
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