Leicester City owner among 5 dead in helicopter crash
The owner of Leicester City Football Club is among five dead following last night’s helicopter crash outside the English club’s stadium.
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha died when his helicopter crashed near the King Power Stadium, the club has confirmed in a statement. Four others who were on board also died.
Leicestershire Police said the others who died in the helicopter crash were Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, who were members of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s staff, as well as pilot Eric Swaffer and passenger Izabela Roza Lechowicz.
Mr Srivaddhanaprabha would leave the stadium by his helicopter after every Leicester home game.
The club announced his death this evening, stating: “It is with the deepest regret and a collective broken heart that we confirm our chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, was among those to have tragically lost their lives on Saturday evening when a helicopter carrying him and four other people crashed outside King Power Stadium. None of the five people on-board survived.
“The primary thoughts of everyone at the club are with the Srivaddhanaprabha family and the families of all those on-board at this time of unspeakable loss.
“In Khun Vichai, the world has lost a great man. A man of kindness, of generosity and a man whose life was defined by the love he devoted to his family and those he so successfully led. Leicester City was a family under his leadership. It is as a family that we will grieve his passing and maintain the pursuit of a vision for the club that is now his legacy,” continued the club statement.
“A book of condolence, which will be shared with the Srivaddhanaprabha family, will be opened at King Power Stadium from 8am on Tuesday October 30 for supporters wishing to pay their respects.
“Supporters unable to visit King Power Stadium that wish to leave a message can do so through an online book of condolence, which will be made available via lcfc.com in due course.
“Both Tuesday’s First Team fixture against Southampton in the EFL Cup and the Development Squad fixture against Feyenoord in the Premier League International Cup have been postponed.
“Everyone at the Club has been truly touched by the remarkable response of the football family, whose thoughtful messages of support and solidarity have been deeply appreciated at this difficult time.”
Leicester police have said that enquiries into the helicopter crash, which happened outside Leicester City’s King Power Stadium, are expected to continue over the coming days.
“Leicestershire Police, East Midlands Ambulance Service and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service all responded to the incident last night and enquiries continue at the scene today, led by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch,” they said.
Details of the crash remain unclear, but witnesses said the helicopter seemed to spiral out of control moments after it set off from the pitch.
It crashed into a car park at the stadium and was engulfed in flames shortly after 8.30pm yesterday.
Police said the Air Accident Investigation Branch would be leading the inquiry into the circumstances of the crash, adding that a cordon would remain in place while inspectors examined the scene.
Mr Srivaddhanaprabha, who owned the King Power company, bought Leicester in 2010 and then became chairman the following February.
