Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha died in the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of four others outside the King Power Stadium on Saturday night, it has been confirmed.
Thousands of supporters flocked to the ground on Sunday, laying hundreds of flowers, shirts, and scarves, in a sign of the depth of feeling for the Thai businessman.
Leicester's players were in a state of shock and posted poignant messages of tribute to the man they call The Boss. Kasper Schmeichel wrote a deeply moving open letter in which he praised Srivaddhanaprabha's passion, generosity, and hard work.
FULL CLUB STATEMENT FROM LEICESTER CITY
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.
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.
A book of condolence, which will be shared with the Srivaddhanaprabha family, will be opened at King Power Stadium from 8am on Tuesday 30 October for supporters wishing to pay their respects.
Supporters unable to visit King Power Stadium that wish to leave a message can do so through an online book of condolence, which will be made available via lcfc.com in due course.
Both Tuesday's first team fixture against Southampton in the EFL Cup and the Development Squad fixture against Feyenoord in the Premier League International Cup have been postponed.
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.
'I am so totally devastated and heartbroken,' Schmeichel posted. 'I cannot believe what I saw. It just doesn't seem real!'
Schmeichel was among a group of people who had run towards the accident site and watched on in an evident state of numbness and upset. He joined Leicester the year after Srivaddhanaprabha bought the club in 2010 and enjoyed a close relationship with his chairman. Schmeichel then stayed in the ground until after 1.30am.
'It is difficult to put into words how much you have meant to this football club and to the city of Leicester,' Schmeichel added. 'You cared so deeply for the entire community. Your endless contribution to Leicester's hospitals and charities will never be forgotten.
'Never have I ever come across a man like you. You touched everyone. You changed football. Forever! You gave hope to everyone that the impossible was possible.
'When you signed me back in 2011 you said to me we would be in the Champions League within six years and we would do great things. You inspired me and I believed in you. You literally made my dreams come true.
'It breaks my heart to know I will never see you in the dressing room when I came in early from my warm-up and have a chat about everything and nothing. That you won't be there having fun and laughing with the boys and seeing your infectious smile and enthusiasm that rubbed off on everyone you came into contact with.
'We now have a responsibility as a club, as players, and fans to honour you. From knowing you we do this by being the family you created. By sticking together and supporting those closest to you through this horrendous time.'
Jamie Vardy wrote: 'Struggling to find the right words, but to me you are 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.'
Harry Maguire posted: 'Words can't describe how I feel. A truly great, kind, loving man who will be missed so much by everyone. I will never forget the Chairman's support, not only during my time @LCFC but also during the World Cup RIP #TheBoss.
Wes Morgan said: 'Absolutely heartbroken and devastated. A man that was loved and adored by everyone here and someone who I personally had the utmost respect for.'
The EFL confirmed Tuesday's proposed Carabao Cup game against Southampton will be called off and black armbands will be worn at matches over the next seven days.
Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, Vichai's son and Leicester's vice-chairman, known as Top, flew over from his residence in Bangkok as the club tried to come to terms with the scale of the loss. It is understood two of Vichai's assistants and two pilots were also killed.
Crash site investigators have been going through the wreckage since the tragedy struck at 8.30pm following Leicester's match against West Ham. Formal identification of those on board proved a difficult process.
It is expected the cause of the crash will take time establish. Eye-witnesses told how the Augusta AW169 helicopter, which had landed minutes earlier after arriving from Belvoir Drive training ground, appeared to suffer a malfunction on take-off from the pitch, sending the aircraft into a tailspin just after rising above the stadium's roof. It then plunged nose first into an empty patch of ground adjacent to car park E behind the East Stand and burst into flames visible for half a mile. Nobody was injured on the ground.
-Dailymail
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.
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.
A book of condolence, which will be shared with the Srivaddhanaprabha family, will be opened at King Power Stadium from 8am on Tuesday 30 October for supporters wishing to pay their respects.
Supporters unable to visit King Power Stadium that wish to leave a message can do so through an online book of condolence, which will be made available via lcfc.com in due course.
Both Tuesday's first team fixture against Southampton in the EFL Cup and the Development Squad fixture against Feyenoord in the Premier League International Cup have been postponed.
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.
'I am so totally devastated and heartbroken,' Schmeichel posted. 'I cannot believe what I saw. It just doesn't seem real!'
Schmeichel was among a group of people who had run towards the accident site and watched on in an evident state of numbness and upset. He joined Leicester the year after Srivaddhanaprabha bought the club in 2010 and enjoyed a close relationship with his chairman. Schmeichel then stayed in the ground until after 1.30am.
'It is difficult to put into words how much you have meant to this football club and to the city of Leicester,' Schmeichel added. 'You cared so deeply for the entire community. Your endless contribution to Leicester's hospitals and charities will never be forgotten.
'Never have I ever come across a man like you. You touched everyone. You changed football. Forever! You gave hope to everyone that the impossible was possible.
'When you signed me back in 2011 you said to me we would be in the Champions League within six years and we would do great things. You inspired me and I believed in you. You literally made my dreams come true.
'It breaks my heart to know I will never see you in the dressing room when I came in early from my warm-up and have a chat about everything and nothing. That you won't be there having fun and laughing with the boys and seeing your infectious smile and enthusiasm that rubbed off on everyone you came into contact with.
'We now have a responsibility as a club, as players, and fans to honour you. From knowing you we do this by being the family you created. By sticking together and supporting those closest to you through this horrendous time.'
Jamie Vardy wrote: 'Struggling to find the right words, but to me you are 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.'
Harry Maguire posted: 'Words can't describe how I feel. A truly great, kind, loving man who will be missed so much by everyone. I will never forget the Chairman's support, not only during my time @LCFC but also during the World Cup RIP #TheBoss.
Wes Morgan said: 'Absolutely heartbroken and devastated. A man that was loved and adored by everyone here and someone who I personally had the utmost respect for.'
The EFL confirmed Tuesday's proposed Carabao Cup game against Southampton will be called off and black armbands will be worn at matches over the next seven days.
Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, Vichai's son and Leicester's vice-chairman, known as Top, flew over from his residence in Bangkok as the club tried to come to terms with the scale of the loss. It is understood two of Vichai's assistants and two pilots were also killed.
Crash site investigators have been going through the wreckage since the tragedy struck at 8.30pm following Leicester's match against West Ham. Formal identification of those on board proved a difficult process.
It is expected the cause of the crash will take time establish. Eye-witnesses told how the Augusta AW169 helicopter, which had landed minutes earlier after arriving from Belvoir Drive training ground, appeared to suffer a malfunction on take-off from the pitch, sending the aircraft into a tailspin just after rising above the stadium's roof. It then plunged nose first into an empty patch of ground adjacent to car park E behind the East Stand and burst into flames visible for half a mile. Nobody was injured on the ground.
-Dailymail