Former British foreign secretary Robin Cook died of hypertensive heart disease, Britain's Crown Office said today.
The announcement followed a postmortem at the Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, Scotland. Mr Cook (59) collapsed while walking in the Highlands on Saturday and was pronounced dead after being airlifted to hospital.
Robin Cook who died during a walking holiday in the Scottish highlands on Saturday. John Stillwell/PA
A Crown Office statement said: "The procurator fiscal for Tain and Dornoch can confirm that a postmortem examination following the death of Robin Cook MP has established the cause of death as hypertensive heart disease.
"Next of kin has been informed of the cause of death, and a death certificate has now been issued."
Mr Cook fell eight feet down a ridge near the summit of the 2,365-foot Ben Stack in Sutherland on Saturday afternoon. His wife, Gaynor (48), told rescuers he had not breathed for 40 minutes as she and a passing walker struggled to revive him.
While they waited for help, Mrs Cook and the walker struggled desperately to revive her husband, with guidance from medical experts by mobile phone. After Mr Cook had been airlifted to Raigmore Hospital, he was declared dead - 90 minutes after collapsing. Mrs Cook was left to make her way down the mountain by foot.
Tony Blair today came under fierce attack from a close friend of Mr Cook for not planning to attend the funeral of the former foreign secretary.
Channel 4 racing pundit John McCririck accused the Prime Minister of snubbing the family and the memory of Mr Cook, who resigned from the government over his opposition to the Iraq war.
Details have not yet been officially confirmed, but Chancellor Gordon Brown is expected to read the main eulogy at Mr Cook's funeral on Friday, and former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is also expected to deliver a contribution.
Downing Street has said Mr Blair is unlikely to break off from his holiday for the funeral and his deputy, John Prescott, is likely to attend instead. Mr Blair may attend a memorial service later in the year.
Agencies