Alex Salmond, the 69 year old Alba Party leader, has died after reportedly “suffering a suspected heart attack” just hours after delivering a speech in North Macedonia.

According to a source close to Salmond told the Daily Record’s Sunday Mail sister title that Salmond is thought to have been at the event today when he collapsed and died, suffering a suspected heart attack. He is survived by wife Moira.

He collapsed and died on Saturday while attending the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy Forum in Ohrid, where he had spoken on a panel alongside his deputy leader Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh the previous day.

Salmond’s death was confirmed by an Alba Party spokesman, and tributes have begun pouring in from the political world. Despite their complicated history, Scotland’s First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney expressed his shock and sadness at Salmond’s untimely passing, saying: “I am deeply shocked and saddened at the untimely death of the former first minister Alex Salmond, and I extend my deepest condolences to Alex’s wife Moira and to his family.”

Swinney acknowledged Salmond’s significant contributions to politics, stating: “Over many years, Alex made an enormous contribution to political life not just within Scotland, but across the UK and beyond.”

Salmond is survived by his wife Moira. “Alex worked tirelessly and fought fearlessly for the country that he loved and for her independence. He took the Scottish National Party from the fringes of Scottish politics into government and led Scotland so close to becoming an independent country.”

“There will be much more opportunity to reflect in the coming days, but today all of our thoughts are with Alex’s family and his many friends right across the political spectrum.”, reports the Daily Record.