By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Owner of Leicester City Football Club of England, Mr Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, has been confirmed dead.
Mr Srivaddhanaprabha was among the five persons killed on Saturday evening after a helicopter he was in with others crashed outside the King Power Stadium, the home ground of the former Premier League champions.
It was gathered that the Thai billionaire was burnt in the tragic crash that occurred immediately after Leicester City’s home match against West Ham United, which ended one apiece.
According to reports, the chopper spiralled out of control and crashed in a fireball on Saturday at the stadium’s car park.
Apart from the club owner and the pilot, the small aircraft was carrying two members of staff of Mr Srivaddhanaprabha and a passenger.
Leicester City, in a statement, condoled with the family Mr Srivaddhanaprabha as well as the families of all those on-board the helicopter.
“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,” the club said, describing Mr Srivaddhanaprabha as 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.”
Thousands of the Foxes’ fans have laid bouquets of flowers outside the King Power stadium to pay their last respect to the owner and others who lost their lives in the unfortunate incident.
The late 60-year-old businessman bought Leicester City in 2010 for £39 million and under his ownership, the club won the Premier League in 2016, having battled for Premier League survival in the previous season.
Leicester City are presently sitting 12th on the Premier League table after 10 games with 13 points.
Dipo Olowookere