The family of Alex Salmond have paid tribute to a “formidable politician” and “a devoted and loving husband”, following his death aged 69.
Mr Salmond, who led the SNP before later founding the Alba party, died on Saturday afternoon from a suspected heart attack during a trip to North Macedonia.
The former first minister had made a speech at the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy Forum before collapsing at lunch in a crowded room.
Mr Salmond’s family said: “Alex was a formidable politician, an amazing orator, an outstanding intellect and admired throughout the world.
“He loved meeting people and hearing their stories and showed incredible kindness to those who needed it.
“He dedicated his adult life to the cause he believed in – independence for Scotland.”
They added: “In our darkest of family moments, he was always the one who got us through, making this time even more difficult, as he is not here for us to turn to. His resilience and optimism knew no bounds.
“He led us to believe in better. Without Alex, life will never be the same again.
“But he would want us to continue with his life’s work for independence, and for justice, and that is what we shall do.”
The Alba Party said it understood Mr Salmond had suffered a heart attack, although there will be a post-mortem examination to confirm the cause of death.
Speaking on Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Swinney said Mr Salmond had also “inspired a generation” to believe in independence.
“He was here the last few days, he gave excellent participation two days ago at the panel discussion,” he said.
“He was really in the best of spirits, the best of health, and I was sitting across from him at lunch yesterday when all of a sudden he just went out and fell into the arms of a colleague of mine on the other side of the table.
“I immediately got up and ran to call an ambulance and when I came back, he was on the floor.”
He resigned as first minister after the 2014 Scottish independence referendum resulted in a 55% to 45% vote to stay in the UK.
He launched his rival Scottish independence party, Alba, in 2021 after his relationship with his successor Nicola Sturgeon fractured.
His final post on X, formerly Twitter, shortly before his death, ended “Scotland is a country not a county”.
Tributes from political contemporaries praised him for his decades in politics and efforts to move Scotland closer to independence.
“He was my mentor, and for more than a decade we formed one of the most successful partnerships in UK politics,” she wrote.
A commemoration for Mr Salmond was also held in the North Macedonian city of Ohrid, attended by President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, who is reported to have extended her condolences over the death of the former first minister.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of Alex Salmond, former first minister of Scotland, who died in North Macedonia on Saturday.
“The FCDO is in touch with the local authorities.”
