Leicester City have confirmed that chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was one of five people tragically killed in the helicopter crash outside the club's stadium on Saturday evening.
Details regarding the crash, which occurred after Leicester's 1-1 draw with West Ham United at the King Power Stadium, had been limited beyond reports that Mr Srivaddhanaprabha was on board his helicopter as it attempted to leave the ground.
However, the Foxes have now confirmed that the chairman - who was in charge of the club as they won the Premier League title against 5,000-1 odds in 2016 - lost his life along with four other people on board the vehicle when it crashed.
Pilot Eric Swaffer and passenger Izabela Roza Lechowicz were also in the helicopter at the time of the crash alongside two members of his staff - Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare.
"It is with the deepest regret and a collective broken heart that we confirm our chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, was among those to have tragically lost their lives on Saturday evening when a helicopter carrying him and four other people crashed outside King Power Stadium. None of the five people on board survived," read a statement from the club.
"The primary thoughts of everyone at the club are 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. Everyone at the club has been truly touched by the remarkable response of the football family, whose thoughtful messages of support and solidarity have been deeply appreciated at this difficult time."
Leicester's EFL Cup clash with Southampton on Tuesday night has been postponed as a result of the tragedy.
Barney Corkhill
