HE gave a city a dream that was almost impossible to conceive of but yesterday that city was in mourning as it came to the realisation that billionaire Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was most likely dead after his helicopter crashed in flames in a car park.
The club confirmed last night that Thai national Srivaddhanaprabha was among five people killed when the helicopter plummeted to the ground soon after taking off from the King Power Stadium on Saturday night.
The other dead were named as two members of his staff, Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, pilot Eric Swaffer and passenger Izabela Roza Lechowicz.
The club said in a statement that it had been "a family" under Srivaddhanaprabha's leadership and: "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."
Witnesses said the owner’s helicopter seemed to spiral out of control moments after it set off at about 8.30pm following the club’s 1-1 draw with fellow English Premier League side West Ham United.
The helicopter, an AgustaWestland 169, was only three years old and is understood to have been the first of its kind bought by a private individual. It was reported that the aircraft developed a tail rotor fault shortly after take off before just clearing the stadium roof and crashing into the car park and exploding into flames.
The tragedy is being described as the “darkest day” in the club’s history, and mourners began laying wreaths near the stadium yesterday morning. A large image of the Hindu god Ganesh was also propped up in amidst the flowers.
Self-made billionaire Srivaddhanaprabha, 60, bought the club nicknamed the Foxes for £39 million in 2010, and became chairman the following February.
Under his ownership the club rose out of the Championship and eventually won the Premier League for the first time in its history in 2015-16, defying odds of 5000-1 to pull off an almost miraculous feat.
The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) is leading the investigation into the circumstances of the crash. An AAIB spokesman said: “A team has been deployed to the site and is investigating. Anyone with information that might be helpful to the investigation is asked to contact the police.”
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