Family of Khun Vichai thank Leicester for 'outpouring of support' as King Power helicopter inquests conclude

Aimon Srivaddhanaprabha, wife of Khun Vichai, outside Leicester Coroner's Court, at the Town Hall in Leicester, for the inquests for the Leicester City helicopter crash victims
-Credit:Joe Giddens/PA Wire


The family of former Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha have thanked Leicester for its "outpouring of support" following his death in a helicopter crash at King Power stadium. An inquest into the deaths of Khun Vichai and the four other people who died in the crash - two members of his staff, Kaveporn Punpare and Nusara Suknamai, and pilots Eric Swaffer and Izabela Lechowicz - finished today (Tuesday, January 28), with the jury concluding that the crash was an accident.

Afterwards, Philip Shepherd KC, representing Khun Vichai's family, read out a statement written by Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, Khun Vichai’s son. Speaking outside Leicester City Hall, and surrounded by Khun Vichai's loved ones, he said: “My family are thankful to senior coroner [Professor Catherine] Mason for her inquest which has shone a spotlight on what happened on the 27th of October 2018.

"As leader of our family: a caring and devoted husband, father, and grandfather, we feel my father’s loss every day. A one-of-a-kind, an 'investor in dreams', as one witness said.

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READ MORE: Jury reaches conclusion in Leicester City helicopter crash inquests

Philip Shepherd KC speaking whilst in front of the family of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, Aiyawatt 'Top' Srivaddhanaprabha (left), Aimon Srivaddhanaprabha (third from left), Voramas Srivaddhanaprabha (fourth from left)Aroonroong Srivaddhanaprabha (sixth from left) and Apichet Srivaddhanaprabha (seventh from left) outside Leicester Coroner's Court, at the Town Hall in Leicester, following the inquests for the Leicester City helicopter crash victims. Owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, pilot Eric Swaffer, co-pilot Izabela Roza Lechowicz, and fellow passengers Kaveporn Punpare and Nusara Suknamai, died when a helicopter spun out of control and burst into flames on October 27 2018 in the car park of the King Power Stadium in Leicester. An inquest jury has concluded that the deaths were accidental.Picture date: Tuesday January 28, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story INQUEST Stadium. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire
Philip Shepherd KC speaking whilst in front of the family of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha outside Leicester Coroner's Court, at the Town Hall in Leicester, following the inquests for the Leicester City helicopter crash victims. -Credit:Joe Giddens/PA Wire

“It’s impossible to put my father into words. Thank you Leicester for your outpouring of support. We miss him and feel his loss every day.”

During the inquest, Leicester City’s director of football, Jonathan Rudkin, spoke of the “remarkable impression” that Khun Vichai had made not only on the football club but the city as a whole. He said: “The culture that was created, the academy at the time received amazing investment from him, which has enabled many young footballers across the city to try and achieve their dreams.

“That was what he was about, giving everybody an opportunity to achieve the impossible dream, that was Khun Vichai.”

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