Leicester players gather in Thailand for cremation of chairman who died along with four others in stadium helicopter crash
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Leicester City players and staff are gathering at a Buddhist temple in Thailand for the cremation of their billionaire chairman who was killed when his helicopter spiralled out of control and crashed outside the King Power Stadium.
Coach Brendan Rodgers and stars including Jamie Vardy are at the temple in Bangkok to say one final goodbye to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha before his body is burned.
Khun Vichai’s body has been kept in rest for 100 days after his funeral in November and the final part of the Buddhist tradition will now be observed.
Manager Brendan Rodgers, second right, players and officials of Leicester City arrive at a Buddhist temple for the funeral of owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in Bangkok, Thailand
Jamie Vardy mourning during the funeral rite ahead of a cremation ceremony at the Wat Debsirindrawas Ratchaworawiharn Temple in Bangkok
Captain Wes Morgan and defender Christian Fuchs lead the team into the temple with the rest of the squad ahead of the cremation ceremony
The squad get down on their knees and in front of a portrait of the late Thai Chairman who was killed along with four others when his helicopter crashed shortly after take-off from Leicester’s home ground in October
He was killed along with four others when his helicopter crashed shortly after take-off from Leicester’s home ground following a game against West Ham on October 27.
The Thai billionaire died alongside employees Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, pilot Eric Swaffer and his co-pilot partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz.
The crash caused shock around the city, with fans later laying out a sea of flowers and shirts in tribute to the club’s late owner.
A pin in the aircraft’s tail rotor became disconnected, forcing it into an ‘uncontrollable’ spin.
Rodgers and his players flew out this morning following a training session and the squad will return early on Saturday.