A memorial garden for Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha today opened at Leicester City to mark one year since the helicopter crash which killed the club’s chairman and four other people.
The five people died when the helicopter crashed outside the King Power Stadium following a 1-1 draw with West Ham.
Staff members Kaveporn Punpare and Nusara Suknamai, and pilots Eric Swaffer and Izabela Lechowicz, also lost their lives in the accident.
Cliff Ginnetta, chairman of the official supporters club, said: “It’s a tranquil corner where anyone can go and sit and reflect. They’ve [the club] got it right again.
“He turned up many years back and transformed not just the football club but the thinking of the city.
“It’s a tribute to what he’s done. When he took over we were all ‘who is this guy?’ but they came in and slowly transformed it.
“It was such a dark day and credit to his family, they have carried on. In tragic circumstances you could lose some of that fight and enthusiasm but they’ve carried on in his name.”
Srivaddhanaprabha bought Leicester City in 2010. The club went on to win the 2015-16 English Premier League at odds of 5000/1.
