Leicester star Kasper Schmeichel relives horror helicopter crash that killed the club’s owner

Kasper Schmeichel is still coming to terms with witnessing the tragic accident that claimed the life of Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, revealing how he made a desperate dash to try to help.

Kasper Schmeichel pays tribute to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha. Picture: AFP

Kasper Schmeichel has relived the “horrifying” moment he waved off Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s helicopter and then watched it spiral to the ground.

Leicester goalkeeper Schmeichel is still coming to terms with witnessing the tragic accident which claimed the life of the club’s owner and four others.

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The 32-year-old has revealed how he made a desperate dash to try to help the Thai businessman after seeing he helicopter plummet out of control to the ground following the Premier League game against West Ham on October 27.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Schmeichel said: “Unfortunately, (I remember) everything. Every little detail.

“I had family over from Denmark and I gave them a little look around the stadium and the pitch — the helicopter was always a big attraction.

Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha with the English Premier League trophy. Picture: AFP

“We waved him off, waved him goodbye, and we kind of just watched him go up. I’d seen him do it hundreds of times — it was a kind of ritual thing in the end.

“You could just tell something was wrong, because it doesn’t normally stand still like that. And what unfolded, unfolded.

“I ran straight out of the tunnel and round to that side of the stadium. People over that side of the stadium hadn’t seen what had gone on.

Kasper Schmeichel says he formed a close friendship with Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha. Picture: AFP

“So I came sprinting out, shouting for people to call the police, one of our security guards saw me, ran after me.

“We managed to get close — our security guard got closer than I did, and he tried to get in and do something.

“But it was very evident from the heat that there was nothing anyone would be able to do.

“And, yeah, it was horrifying, horrible, to be that helpless.”

Police and emergency services at the scene of the helicopter crash. Picture: Getty Images

Schmeichel was one of the Foxes stars most affected by what happened, having built up a close friendship with Vichai during his time at Leicester.

He says the 60-year-old helped him finally establish himself as a top goalkeeper in his own right after years of others questioning his abilities.

Schmeichel added: “If you look back at my career, I’ve had to constantly prove myself and be compared to others.

“Constantly having to prove I am good enough. Then came a guy who said he believed in me from the first minute. He said he’d seen me play and just gave me the platform.

Leicester fans observe a minute’s silence to remember Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and the other victims of the crash. Picture: AFP

“I’ve been here nearly eight years now and that says a lot about the stability here and the belief he had in me.

“Having gone from nine clubs to just being at one club, I was searching for someone who believed in me — he and his family did.

“It’s very easy to be caught up in this world of money, fame and fortune. He is a guy who has done all that and doesn’t care about it. He only cares about helping people.

“It just speaks to the man that he was. He didn’t need to buy a football club. That’s never a good business investment.

“He wasn’t in it to make money, he wanted to give. He had a passion for the club, for Leicester, all that he did for the city — the donations to the hospital and such.

“It was ownership done properly. If you’re a fan of any club, that’s the type of owner you want, the type of owner you dream of having.”

Originally published as Leicester star Kasper Schmeichel relives horror helicopter crash that killed the club’s owner