Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha. Photo /Getty
Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha. Photo /Getty
English Premier League side Leicester City have confirmed club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha is among the five people killed in helicopter crash yesterday.
The helicopter crashed in the corner of a car park moments after taking off from the centre circle after a Premier League game between Leicester City and West Ham.
The five people who died in the crash are: Srivaddhanaprabha, two members of his staff, Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, pilot Eric Swaffer and passenger Izabela Roza Lechowicz.
"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 statement read.
"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.
Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha. Photo / Richard Holmes/ProSports/REX/Shu
"A book of condolence, which will be shared with the Srivaddhanaprabha family, will be opened at King Power Stadium from 8am on Tuesday 30 October 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."
Flowers are seen outside Leicester City Football Club after a helicopter crashed in flames the day before. Photo / AP
Clubs around England are sending their condolences to the famly and Leicester City.
Our deepest condolences to the family of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and all at @LCFC at this very sad time.
Everyone at Leyton Orient Football Club sends its condolences to the family and friends of the five individuals that tragically lost their lives, and to Leicester City. ❤️
Srivaddhanaprabha made his money in retail in Thailand and his King Power duty-free shops are in every airport in the Asian country.
Srivaddhanaprabha's and his entourage leaving the King Power by helicopter has become a familiar sight as he frequently takes off from the centre circle of Leicester's ground.
The £2million aircraft which has eight seats was spotted hovering over the south east corner of the ground before spluttering and spiraling to ground, near Filbert Way, and bursting into flames.
BT Sports cameras captured the moments leading up to the helicopter preparing for take-off as presenter Jake Humphreys seemed to confirm Mr Srivaddhanaprabha was on board.
Spectators at the game said they witnessed the helicopter spinning out of control and that there was a problem with the tail rotor of the aircraft.
Srivaddhanaprabha bought Leicester City in August 2010 and was named chairman in February 2011.
The club famously defied odds of 5,000-1 to clinch the Premier League title in the 2015-16 season - as Srivaddhanaprabha gifted each player their own £100,000 BMW i8 as a reward for their unprecedented success.
Srivaddhanaprabha was born in Bangkok on April 4, 1958 to a Thai Chinese family.
The Thai billionaire Srivaddhanaprabha kick-started his business journey by opening a duty free shop back in Bangkok in 1989 at the age of 31.
