It is with huge sadness that TRBusiness reports the passing of King Power International Group (KPIG) and Leicester City Chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

An official statement from the football club confirmed the news late last night (28 October) following a crash involving the Thai Chairman’s helicopter outside the King Power Stadium.

Srivaddhanaprabha was among five who lost their lives onboard. KPIG has not as yet issued its own statement.

Leicestershire Police says the other victims are believed to be pilot Eric Swaffer, Nusara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare –members of Srivaddhanaprabha’s staff – and passenger Izabela Roza Lechowicz, although it is important to put on record that formal identification has yet to take place.

‘UNSPEAKABLE LOSS’ 

In the statement, the club expresses its ‘deepest regret and a collective broken heart’ at the deaths at a time of ‘unspeakable loss’.

It read: “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.”

A book of condolence on behalf of the Srivaddhanaprabha family will be available from 8:00am Tuesday (30 October) to supporters wishing to pay their respects.

Those unable to visit the stadium can issue messages through an online book of condolence, available at www.lcfc.com shortly.

Fans of the football club have been flocking to the King Power Stadium to pay their respects in the aftermath of a ‘major’ incident, although up until this point little detail on the eventualities of the crash have been made public despite widespread speculation.

The club added that it has been ‘truly touched’ by messages of support and solidarity from the football community, all of which are ‘deeply appreciated’ at this time.

TRBusiness would like to pass on its deepest condolences to the close friends and family of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and the other victims and everyone associated with KPIG and Leicester City FC.

Further updates to follow…