BBC News
The Leicester City owner’s helicopter has crashed in a car park outside the club’s ground as it left the stadium following a Premier League match.

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was in the helicopter when it came down at about 20:30 BST on Saturday, a source close to the family has told the BBC.

One witness said he saw Leicester player Kasper Schmeichel run out of the stadium towards the scene of the crash.

It has not been confirmed how many other people were on the helicopter.

But a report by Reuters, which the BBC has not been able to verify, claimed four other people were on board with Mr Srivaddhanaprabha.

Leicester had drawn 1-1 against West Ham United at the King Power Stadium, with the match finishing about one hour before the helicopter took off from the pitch.

Witnesses said they saw it just clear the stadium before it spiralled out of control, with some describing seeing a fireball as it crashed.

The club said it was assisting police and emergency services and would issue a more detailed statement in due course.

Under Mr Srivaddhanaprabha’s ownership, Leicester City won the Premier League in 2016, having started the season as 5,000/1 outsiders.

There has been a steady flow of people wearing Leicester City shirts and hats this morning.

Despite the number of fans gathered here it’s very quiet.

Lots of children are also here with their parents laying flowers outside the ground.

Many people have been in tears as they approach stadium and they’ve all been consoling each other.

Richard Mobbs, from Burton Overy in Leicestershire, said he last saw the chairman in June when they discussed a player who was about to join the club.

“I spoke to Vichai a lot,” the 68-year-old said.

“It is such a shock. You just have to pay your respects.”

Mr Mobbs described Mr Srivaddhanaprabha as a “lovely, quiet, down to earth man”, and paid tribute to his family.

“They are all friendly,” he said.

“This season they bought me a season ticket.”

Anupat Maturongpituck, a student from Thailand studying at the University of Leicester, came to the King Power Stadium on Sunday to “pay my respects”, adding news of the crash has had a “great impact” in Thailand.

Freelance photographer Ryan Brown, who was covering the game, saw the helicopter clear the King Power Stadium before it crashed.

He told BBC Radio Leicester: “The engine stopped and I turned round and it made a bit of a whirring noise, like a grinding noise.

“The helicopter just went silent, I turned round and it was just spinning, out of control. And then there was a big bang and then [a] big fireball.”