Very sad news.
The owner of Leicester City Football Club is confirmed to be among five dead following Saturday night’s helicopter crash outside the English club’s stadium.
Club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, 61, and four others died when their helicopter crashed and burst into flames outside the King Power Stadium an hour after Saturday’s 1-1 draw with West Ham.
In a statement on Sunday night, the club said:
“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.”
“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 Ain 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.
Vichai bought Leicester City in 2010 and six years later celebrated a remarkable achievement when the club won the Premier League.
