A youth conference organiser who witnessed Alex Salmond collapse during lunch at an event in North Macedonia has said that “time stopped”.

Mark Donfried said Scotland’s former first minister was caught by a fellow delegate as he fell backwards in his chair after suffering what is thought to have been a massive heart attack.

The event was cancelled as paramedics tried in vain to resuscitate Salmond.

Tributes have poured in from across the political spectrum following the former SNP leader’s death at the age of 69.

Mr Donfried said those attending the event in Macedonia had gathered later to share reflections and give thanks and prayers for Salmond’s life.

Speaking from Ohrid in North Macedonia, he told BBC Scotland News: “We are all still in a state of shock and that is not something we can easily move forward from.”

Mr Donfried, executive founder and director at the Academy for Cultural Diplomacy (ACD), said Salmond was an “active member” of his organisation.

He said: “For many of the young leaders here he was really a role model and he inspired many of them.”

Mr Donfried said Salmond had delivered a speech at the conference on Friday then attended dinner that evening where he discussed plans for an ACD event in Scotland next year.

He added the former MP and MSP seemed in the “best of health, the best of spirits”.

But the following day during lunch after a panel discussion, Salmond took ill and lost consciousness at the table.

Mr Donfried raced to the hotel reception to request an ambulance.

He added: “By the time I came back he was on the floor and they were trying CPR.”

When paramedics arrived there was nothing that could be done to save him.

Mr Donfried said he was told the cause of death was suspected to be an “immediate massive heart attack”.

“The good news is he didn’t suffer. I don’t think he felt any pain.”

Describing the aftermath, he said: “Really time stopped. The entire hotel, the entire conference was in shock.

“Most of the participants here were young leaders and none of them had ever experienced anything like this.

“I think there was a feeling of shock, a feeling of loss and of not really knowing what to do.”

During the moment of reflection later, Mr Donfried recited a prayer that was shared during his late father’s funeral.

“That was important for us all, to have a moment to come together and pause in honour of Alex.”

He added that Salmond, the leader of the Alba party, was “a great leader who inspired so many”.

Mr Donfried said: “I was speaking to some of the Spanish participants last night and they were talking about how in Spain he is, in so many ways, a legend.”

He said ACD, which is based in Berlin, had received many messages from across the world since Salmond’s sudden death.

Mr Donfried said the organisation was in close contact with the British Embassy and that the repatriation of Salmond’s body may involve the Royal Air Force.

He added: “Our hearts are all going out to Alex’s family.”