On Saturday evening following Leicester City’s Premier League fixture at the King Power Stadium a helicopter carrying the club’s owner crashed shortly after take-off, killing five people.
In a statement The Foxes confirmed its owner, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, was among those killed, along with two members of his staff, another passenger, and the pilot.
Srivaddhanaprabha is a father of four and bought the club in 2010 for £39m. Under his ownership in 2015/16 the club won the Premier League title having started the season as 5000/1 outsiders – a feat that will go down as one of the greatest sporting achievements of all time.
Leicestershire Police said it believed the other people killed in the crash to be two members of Mr Vichai's staff - Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare - pilot Eric Swaffer and his partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz.
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha celebrates with the Barclays Premier League trophy
Leicester’s goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel led his team-mates in paying tribute to the club’s "dedicated and passionate" owner.
In an open letter to Vichai, the Danish international expressed his admiration and gratitude to him "as a leader, as a father and as a man".
Schmeichel wrote: "I cannot believe this is happening. I am so totally devastated and heartbroken. I just cannot believe what I saw last night. It just doesn't seem real!"
"It is difficult to put into words how much you have meant to this football club and to the city of Leicester. We all know about the investment in the football club you and your family have made. But this is about so much more.
"You cared so deeply for not just the club but for the entire community. Your endless contribution to Leicester's hospitals and charities will never be forgotten. You went above and beyond in every aspect."
"You changed football. Forever!"
"You gave hope to everyone that the impossible was possible, not just to our fans but to fans all over the world in any sport!"
In a club statement Leicester City described an ‘unspeakable loss’ stating everyone’s thoughts were 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.”
England and Foxes defender Harry Maguire described the owner as a "truly great, kind, loving man".
Fellow City defender and England left-back Chilwell said Srivaddhanaprabha was "one of the best people you could wish to meet".
Vardy whose goals were so synonymous with Leicester City’s title winning campaign, added: "Struggling to find the right words, but to me you are a legend, an incredible man who had the biggest heart, the soul of Leicester City Football Club.
"Thank you for everything you did for me, my family and our club. I will truly miss you, may you rest in peace."
Supporters pay tribute at Leicester City Football Club
Shocked fans have left shirts, bouquets of flowers and tributes outside the ground, with the loss of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha being felt in the wider community.
The family were hugely popular in the city having donated millions of pounds to Leicester Royal Infirmary and given money to the University of Leicester.
The club are organising a book of condolence, giving supporters the chance to pay their respects, this will then be shared with the Srivaddhanaprabha family.
Leicester have also confirmed that Tuesday’s ELF Cup fixture against Southampton has been postponed.
PFA's thoughts with Leicester City
The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the PFA are with the family and friends of all those involved in the crash and our deepest condolences go to everyone at Leicester City.
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