THE daughter-in-law of former Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd has plunged 40ft to her death from the roof of her New York home.

Mum-of-five Catherine Hurd was found in the early hours of Saturday morning near her home close to the UN headquarters, where her husband worked.

The couple were due to return to the UK in a week’s time when his posting came to an end.

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Mrs Hurd, 46, was taken by paramedics to hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Police believe it was suicide but did not find a note.

A New York Police spokesman said: “Police responded to a call and found a 46-year-old woman outside 445 East 84th Street ­unresponsive and with severe trauma. There is no suspicion of criminality at this time.”

Her husband Thomas, 45, is the Conservative veteran’s son and a contemporary of Prime Minister David Cameron at Eton.

The Middle East expert is part of the UK arm of the United Nations Security Council.

The Foreign Office has refused to comment on Mrs Hurd’s death.