Leicester City helicopter crash - owner among five dead

1. Leicester owner confirmed dead in helicopter crash outside stadium
2. Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was in helicopter along with four others
3. Two members of staff, Nursara Suknamai & Kaveporn Punpare, pilot Eric Swaffer & passenger Izabela Roza Lechowicz believed to be other victims
4. Crash occurred after Leicester draw with West Ham
5. Club to open book of condolence at King Power Stadium on Tuesday
6. Tuesday's Carabao Cup game with Southampton postponed

The worst fears were realised tonight as Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, two members of his staff, Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, pilot Eric Swaffer and passenger Izabela Roza Lechowicz were confirmed to have died in Saturday's horrific helicopter crash outside the King Power Stadium.

There have been many tributes to the inspirational owner and many more will follow, but for now we say goodnight.

BBC

The Guardian

guardian

Here are the BBC articles detailing the Leicester helicopter crash.

Leicester helicopter crash victims named - BBC News report

Who was Leicester's billionaire owner - Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha profile

Helicopter tragedy - what we know

Leicester fans pay tribute to 'probably the best owner in England'

'Someone who loves football'

BBC Radio 5 live

More from former Leicester boss Michael Appleton's interview with BBC Radio 5 live earlier today and he said: "What I know of Vichai and what he was like with the staff, the players and the fans, he saw himself as one of them.

"Someone who loves football, loves watching the game and living the dream. Because ultimately what Leicester City did two years ago will never be surpassed."

Leicester's Vicente Iborra.

British tennis player Katie Boulter, who was born in Leicester.

Nottingham Forest manager Aitor Karanka.

'Leicester owner had incredible bond with fans'

BBC Radio 5 live

Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha had ‘an incredible bond with the fans’, according to NBC commentator and Foxes fan, Arlo White.

NBC Sports commentator and Leicester fan Arlo White on owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

'He kept a positive front on'

Leicester City

Former Leicester boss Michael Appleton told the BBC today that owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha would "always look to find the positive. When I was there last year I had never seen him unhappy or disappointed.

"Whether he was just doing that professionally and obviously privately he was disappointed, certainly from a professional point of view, front of house and in front of the players and the staff he kept a positive front on."

'He's put Leicester on the map'

World snooker number one and Leicester fan Mark Selby was playing today in China but admitted: "Mentally I wasn't there, my head was elsewhere because of what happened at the football club. It was a tough day."

Selby said of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha: "He's done wonders for the club, he's put Leicester on the map as well. I was fortunate enough to meet him a fair few times, he put me in the directors' box on the day we won the Premier League and I had dinner with him which was fantastic.

"He was a great, great guy and I just want to send my condolences to his family and everyone at Leicester."

Getty Images

'A great person'

Leicester midfielder Andy King with his tribute to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, describing the club's owner as "a great person who cared so much about our club."

'An incredible emotional connection'

Former Leicester boss Michael Appleton told BBC Sport today that Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha had "an incredible emotional connection with the fans.

"The ownership of Leicester City, the family, it is probably one of the only clubs where I’ve never heard a fan slag off or moan at the ownership," said Appleton, who was caretaker boss in 2017.

Leicester full-back Danny Simpson.

'Great loss for English football'

Liverpool

Liverpool owners John W Henry, Tom Werner and Mike Gordon have issued a joint statement.

"Srivaddhanaprabha was the ultimate custodian for the club he bought and then gracefully served.

"The Premier League title win, one of world football’s all-time great stories, is of course the standout achievement. But beyond that, he led his club in a manner which all of us in this privileged position aspire to. Success on the pitch, allied with outstanding governance off it.

“Vichai is a great loss not just to his club but to the Premier League and English football as a whole."

Leicester winger Demarai Gray describes how Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha "never stopped supporting" the players.

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha profile

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha bought Leicester in 2010 for £39m, cleared their debts and saw the club win promotion to the top flight four years later. They then beat odds of 5000-1 to claim the Premier League title in 2015-16, in what is frequently referred to as one of the greatest sporting stories of all time.

Read more about Leicester's inspirational owner here.

The sad news was confirmed tonight that Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, two members of his staff, the helicopter pilot and a passenger died when the aircraft crashed at about 20:30 BST on Saturday. Here is the BBC News report.

The Times

times

Daily Mirror

Here are some of the newspaper headlines regarding the tragedy and the Daily Mirror says the helicopter pilot, who has been named tonight as Eric Swaffer, could have saved hundreds of lives by diverting away from the busiest areas surrounding the stadium.

Mirror

'A gentleman who graced the game'

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore issues a statement in which he says: "Vichai was a gentleman who graced the game with his civility and charm and we will miss him enormously.

"His impact on Leicester - the football club and the city - will be remembered forever."