01 Nov 2018
Bangkok funeral for Leicester City owner

Leicester City helicopter crash: Funeral arrangements made in Thailand

  • 1 November 2018
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  • Leicester City helicopter crash
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Image copyright AFP/Getty Images
Image caption Thai billionaire Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha bought Leicester City in 2010

The funeral of the Leicester City owner who died in a helicopter crash is to begin in Thailand on Saturday.

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha died along with two members of his staff, the pilot and a passenger when the aircraft came down in a car park moments after taking off from the King Power stadium.

Details announced in Thailand said the ceremony would begin in the evening with Buddhist bathing rituals.

Crash investigations are still taking place at the Leicester City ground.

Nusara Suknamai, Kaveporn Punpare, pilot Eric Swaffer and his partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz also died in the crash on Saturday.

Image copyright Getty Images/Facebook/Instagram
Image caption Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, two members of his staff, the pilot and a passenger were killed when the aircraft spiralled out of control and crashed in a fireball

Police have now formally identified four of the victims and coroners are still to formally identify the fifth.

The funeral details, issued to Thai media, said a bathing ceremony would start at a temple in Bangkok on 3 November.

This will be followed by recitation ceremonies over the whole weekend. The date of a cremation ceremony has not been set yet.

The BSports understands a funeral ceremony would take place with or without Mr Vichai's body.

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Those who issued the noticed also requested that instead of wreaths donations be made to the Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok.

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Media captionLeicester City fans gather to pay tribute to owner

A huge display of floral and footballing tributes have been left outside the stadium and a steady stream of people have been signing a book of condolence at the ground since it opened on Tuesday.

Families of those who died, players and members of the wider Leicester community have also been visiting the memorial.

Image copyright PA

In Leicester, two sisters are planning a memorial walk from the city centre to the King Power Stadium on 10 November, with thousands of people expected to attend.

Pupils at a Leicester school are being allowed to wear Leicester City shirts or something blue with their uniform today in recognition of the club chairman.

Leicester City players have confirmed they will travel by road to their game at Cardiff on Saturday rather than fly, as it was felt insensitive to go by plane given the circumstances of Mr Vichai's death.

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