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AN Egyptian diplomat died after plunging from the roof of the country’s Mayfair embassy just days before the start of the Tahrir Square uprising earlier this year, an inquest heard.

Ayman Mohammed Fayed, who lived in Maida Vale and worked as a financial administrator for the Egyptian government, had “no reason” to harm himself, according to statements referred to at Westminster Coroner’s Court on Wednesday.

But detectives believe he went on the roof intending on taking his own life but changed his mind and slipped while trying to clamber back in through a third-storey window. His body was discovered by colleagues on the pavement outside the entrance to the embassy on January 14.

Witness Kamla Badawi, who works for the commercial arm of the embassy in the building opposite, described seeing Mr Fayed on the grey, sloping, roof. But she said she had not seen whether he had fallen or jumped.

In a statement read to the court, she said she had been looking out of her office window when she saw a stranger apparently trying to enter the embassy through a third-floor window.

She said: “He appeared to be trying to get into the building. He did try to push his top half into the window to push himself to get in.” She assumed the man was a burglar and “heard a loud bang” while she was turned away from the window and on the phone to the embassy alerting them.  

A note in Arabic, signed by Mr Fayed, 41, which stated “Look after the children” was found in the office where he worked. His shoes had been carefully laid out and his watch placed on his desk. The office door had been locked and there was a chair in front of the window. 

The inquest heard Mr Fayed had arrived at work at 1.30pm and paramedics had received a call at 3.56pm. Many staff were out of the office at the time as it coincided with Friday prayers.

After discovering Mr Fayed embassy staff moved him inside where he was treated by paramedics. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 4.10pm. The cause of death was recorded as multiple injuries.

Detective Inspector Andrew Fleming, who investigated the incident, said he had found no evidence of any suspicious circumstances, adding police had first assumed Mr Fayed had been a burglar.

He said: “We established it was a diplomat... At that point I was not aware if he had fallen or jumped.”

He said he suspected Mr Fayed had set out to commit ­suicide but had had second thoughts once on the roof.

“I suspect he changed his mind leaning down and tried to reach back into the window,” he said.

Coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox said: “The only incongruity that we have is that at the most crucial moment there is not any witness to say whether he jumped or fell.”

But she added that she was “completely satisfied” that there was nothing suspicious about the death.

Recording an open verdict, she said: “We have no witnesses as to how he came to end up on the road and as to whether he jumped or fell. 

“I am unable to be satisfied on the balance of probabilities that this was the result of an accident. The only witness to this incident said she had seen a man attempting to enter the building so there is also no evidence to show that he deliberately jumped from the building. 

“I am left with no option but to return an open verdict. 

“However, I wish to make it absolutely clear that I am completely satisfied that there was nothing suspicious in this death.”