The South African ambassador to France, 58-year-old Nkosinathi Emmanuel Mthethwa, has been found dead after falling from the 22nd floor of the Hayat hotel in Paris.

His wife reported his disappearance yesterday afternoon after receiving an alarming message from him, according to French media.

Police sources say one of the security windows in his room at that hotel had been broken and from that it appears he was found in the void.

Authorities are examining all possibilities as to the cause of the ambassador’s death.