Leicester City helicopter crash: tributes flow as club owner’s death confirmed
Leicester City have confirmed their much-loved billionaire owner was one of five people who died in a helicopter crash.
Leicester City have confirmed chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was one of five people who died after a helicopter crashed and erupted into a fireball outside of King Power Stadium.
— Leicester City (@LCFC) October 28, 2018
“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 successfully led. Leicester City was a family under his leadership,” a club statement read.
Leicestershire police have confirmed two members of Srivaddhanaprabha’s staff Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, pilot Eric Swaffer and passenger Izabela Roza Lechowicz were the others on board.
The much-loved billionaire Thai owner left the pitch by the helicopter as he always did at home games. The helicopter, en route to Luton airport so that its five passengers could then transfer to a private jet bound for Thailand, cleared the top of the stadium before spinning out of control into the ground, hitting a staff carpark around 8.36pm.
As tearful Foxes fans and supporters from other teams descended on the club to pay their respects and add to a sea of floral tributes, players also shared their tributes on social media.
— Kasper Schmeichel (@kschmeichel1) October 28, 2018
Words can’t describe how I feel. A truly great, kind, loving man who will be missed so much by everyone.
— Harry Maguire (@HarryMaguire93) October 28, 2018
I will never forget the Chairman’s support, not only during my time @LCFC but also during the World Cup 😢 RIP ⤠#TheBoss pic.twitter.com/66aGjGGwX9
😞😞😞ðŸ™ðŸ¼ðŸ™ðŸ¼ðŸ™ðŸ¼ðŸ’™ðŸ’™ðŸ’™ pic.twitter.com/hFfu6Nm1nK
— Ben Chilwell (@BenChilwell) October 28, 2018
BBC football commentator Ian Stringer said:
“This is a very close football club, a tightly knit group of people. People love this guy — they pulled off the greatest sports story ever at this stadium and lifted the Premier League trophy.’’
At the stadium, parents with young children wore club shirts with handwritten messages and cards to place beside the flowers and team scarfs. This was a man who made dreams come true. One message said: “To the best owner in the League, thank you and God bless’’.
Srivaddhanaprabha, who had instilled a family friendly culture within the club, guiding it to an astounding Premier League premiership in 2016, had brought Leicester’s community together. Just months ago he made a sizeable donation to the local hospital.
The club confirmed its EFL Cup tie against Southampton, scheduled for Tuesday, has been postponed.
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