Leicester owner's tragic last gesture seconds before helicopter crash
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Leicester City’s tragic Thai owner waved and gave a thumbs up to club staff seconds before he died in a helicopter crash, an inquest heard. Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, 60, died alongside pilots Eric Swaffer, 53, and Izabela Roza Lechowicz, 46, in October 2018. The billionaire tycoon’s personal butler Kaveporn Punpare, 33, and assistant Nusara Suknamai, 32, also died in the tragedy.
They were killed when the helicopter spun out of control and burst into flames between two car parks at the King Power Stadium. It had taken off seconds earlier to take Mr Srivaddhanaprabha and his staff to London after the match against West Ham. Inquests into the five deaths began in Leicester - more than six years after the tragedy. Leicester City’s director of football Jonathan Rudkin broke down in tears as he gave evidence to the hearing.
He told the inquest how he sat alongside Vichai during the game and later met him in his office after the match. Mr Rudkin said the club chairman checked on the condition of a player who had suffered a serious injury. He later walked him across the pitch to board the helicopter - before watching in horror as the aircraft crashed. Mr Rudkin said: “The chairman was the last one to get in. I walked back to pitch side and stood and waited for his departure.
