Leicester City to honour Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha legacy at King Power Stadium
Leicester City football club have announced a remembrance garden a year on from October 27 helicopter disaster. The accident took the life of then chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others.
October 27 2018 is probably the darkest day in Leicester City Football Club’s history. On that fateful and surreal seeming day, then chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, and four others perished at the King Power Stadium following a helicopter crash.
After a draw with West Ham United in the Premier League, the late owner, two of his staff members and two pilots boarded the plane. He frequently did so and that evening seemed like no other. Though on takeoff a reported rotator issue caused control to be lost and the helicopter plummeted, hitting the ground just outside the stadium.
All five people onboard were apparently killed instantly on impact; with pilot Eric Swaffer hailed a hero for steering the craft away from some fans who were still exiting the complex. Earlier this year son Aiyawatt, or Top, Srivaddhanaprabha was declared the new chairman. He is also highly regarded by players, staff and supporters alike.
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Leicester City remembers
It has taken a long time for fans to come to terms with the loss of a beloved and generous man. Without Srivaddhanaprabha the Foxes would never have won the Championship as quickly. Not to mention that they probably would have never triumphed in the premiership. Even writing this now brings the emotion flooding back for this writer.
Thankfully we can pass on the news of the plans for formal memorial for Khun Vichai, as lcfc.com announced the opening of a remembrance garden at the ground on the site of the awful tragedy:
"– Club to mark anniversary of late Chairman’s passing with opening of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Memorial Garden– The garden will be situated on the site of the October 2018 helicopter accident at King Power Stadium– The site will be open to the public on 27 October following a private ceremony– Floral tributes left following last year’s accident to support the garden’s growthFor more information, please click here."
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What a wonderful touch that the plans extend to being involved in the extension of the ground itself – there were so many tributes and shirts given in the time of grief to justify it. Then the fact that floral offerings will be used to sustain the growth is very touching.