Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha confirmed dead in helicopter crash | Soccer



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Leicester City's owner, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, died in the helicopter crash outside the club's stadium on Saturday night, it was confirmed on Sunday night by the club.

He was one of five people killed – when the accident occurred around an hour after Leicester's draw at West Ham United. The Thai owner's helicopter is a must-have for the rest of the world. 8.20pm.

"It is with the deepest regret and a collective broken heart that we confirmed our chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, was tragically lost on their lives on the King Power Stadium. None of the five people on-board survived, read a club statement.

"The primary thoughts of everyone at the club are with the Srivaddhanaprabha family and the families of 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 is 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 a family that we will be able to see and maintain the pursuit of a vision for the club that is now his legacy. "

Leicestershire Police have named them as Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, two members of Vichai's staff, and pilot Eric Swaffer and passenger Izabela Roza Lechowicz.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is leading the investigation into the accident and continues in the scene while investigations continue.

"This is an incredibly tragic incident in which people are understood to have lost their lives," Superintendent Steve Potter said. "Emergency services were immediately on the scene when the crash happened, working to put out the fire and gain access to the helicopter in attempts to reach those inside. Despite those efforts, there were no survivors. "

Vichai, one of Thailand's richest men, bought Leicester City in 2010 and six years later celebrated one of the greatest leagues of the Premier League.

"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 to pay their respects," continued the club statement. "Supporters will not be able to visit King Power Stadium, which will be made available via lcfc.com in due course."

The club confirmed that both sides of the world have won a place in the EFL Cup and the development of Feyenoord in the Premier League has been postponed. The club added: "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."

The 60-year-old, a hugely popular figure at Leicester, normally leaves in his Augusta AW169 helicopter after home matches. On Saturday he was traveling to Thailand and Thailand.

Eyewitness reports indicated that it has been reduced to one of the roofs of the roof, and that it has been reduced to a smaller diameter.

A huge fireball erupted and the air smelting of fuel in the hours after the crash. Emergency services rushed to the scene to tackle the wreckage, with the area eventually cordoned off by Leicestershire police.

The helicopter crashed on land owned by the club, which was used by Leicester's staff. The site was empty at the time.

Members of the public traveled to the tribute on Sunday. Players in Premier League matches on Sunday wore black armbands as a mark of respect. Minute's silences were held at Manchester United and Burnley, and took place in Crystal Palace. Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, Leicester's vice-chairman and Vichai's son, flew to the United Kingdom from Thailand on Sunday. Police Leicestershire pleaded for patience from the public as crash investigators took control of the site.

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