Sarkozy provided a helicopter to take Cameron on the last leg of the journey to the hospital near the Mediterranean port of Toulon after he had flown from London.

Ian Cameron, 77, whom the prime minister described as an amazing man, had suffered a stroke with heart complications on Wednesday during a holiday in France.

"I am extremely grateful to President Sarkozy who helped me get to the hospital while dad was still with us so I could say good-bye," Cameron said in a statement.

Ian Cameron was born without heels and had had both legs amputated. He was a successful stockbroker, sending the future prime minister to Eton, an elite fee-paying school.