Leicester helicopter crash: Tearful Jamie and Rebekah Vardy lay wreath to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha as city unites in grief
REBEKAH Vardy broke down in tears today as she laid a wreath outside the King Power Stadium with striker husband Jamie in memory of club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
The Thai billionaire, 60, died alongside four others when his helicopter crashed outside the Leicester City ground on Saturday night.
His assistant Kaveporn Punpare and former Thai beauty queen Nursara Suknamai also died as well as pilot Eric Swaffer and his co-pilot girlfriend Izabela Roza Lechowicz.
The helicopter crashed seconds after taking off from the pitch in the aftermath of Leicester's 1-1 Premier League draw with West Ham United.
Vardy and wife Rebekah both shed tears as they made the solemn gesture while grieving fans watched on.
The star striker was very close with the owner, and on social media he shared an image of himself with Mr Srivaddhanaprabha alongside a touching message.
He 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...#theboss."
Leicester City fans have been flocking to sign a book of remembrance in honour of tragic owner.
The Foxes have postponed Tuesday's Carabao Cup game at home to Southampton.
The book will be available in a marquee outside the club shop from 8am until 10pm "for the foreseeable future".
Hundreds turned out at the stadium to sign the book this morning and thousands are expected to pay their respects in the coming days.
A sea of floral tributes has already been left outside the King Power Stadium by devastated fans.
A special memorial service was held on the pitch yesterday with players and officials surrounding the centre circle as a wreath was laid by Vichai's son and vice chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha.
He was joined by his mother and Vichai's wife Aimon at the ground. The president of the Thai FA Somyot Poompanmoung and his wife, Potjaman Poompamoung, were also among the group.
The first-team squad, along with manager Claude Puel, then spent 10 minutes looking at the tributes on Monday afternoon.
Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who was visibly emotional, reportedly saw the incident and raced to the scene.
Meanwhile, former Leicester and England goalkeeper Peter Shilton has described the moment he and wife Steph saw the helicopter crash.
He told the BBC: "It started to drop a little bit and then it crashed. It all seemed to happen so quickly. Then there were sparks coming out of the back, then some small flames then large flames.
"This all happened very quickly, and it all of a sudden just blew up.
"My wife became hysterical, I was in shock and think I still am, and I just grabbed hold of her.
"We were just so helpless. But at the time, thinking the chairman and his family were on there, it was just incredible.
"It is something that will live with us forever really. It is one of the most horrendous things that anyone could ever see.
CCTV footage captured the horrific final moments before the helicopter crashed and hurtled towards the ground.
The chopper can be seen taking off from the stadium, flying just 200m before it suddenly appears to spin out of control.
The Air Accident Investigation Branch confirmed today they had recovered the helicopter's black box from the wreckage as they search for clues around just what happened in the seconds before the crash.
Tributes have also flooded in from the footballing world with Leicester referring to their chairman as a "great man".
The club said: "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."
Kasper Schmeichel penned a deeply poignant and emotional address to Srivaddhanaprabha after the news of his death was confirmed on Sunday night.
He wrote: “Dear Mr Chairman. I cannot believe this is happening. I am so totally devastated and heartbroken. I just cannot believe what I saw last night. It just doesn’t seem real!"
Finishing the message to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, Schmeichel wrote: "You will never know how much you meant to me and my family. I am truly honoured and privileged to have been a small part of your life. #TheBoss"