Helicopter crashes in Leicester City car park

Leicestershire Police have confirmed they are dealing with an incident outside the King Power Stadium amid reports a helicopter belonging to Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha has crashed.

The incident occurred shortly after the Foxes’ 1-1 draw with West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday.

Srivaddhanaprabha’s helicopter reportedly left the ground as usual from the centre of the pitch at about 20:30 local time but it is thought it swiftly came down in the car park. 

Leicestershire Police tweeted: “We are dealing with an incident in the vicinity of the King Power Stadium. Emergency services are aware and dealing.”

We are dealing with an incident in the vicinity of the King Power Stadium. Emergency services are aware and dealing.

— LeicestershirePolice (@leicspolice) October 27, 2018

A Leicester spokesperson said: “We are assisting Leicestershire Police and the emergency services in dealing with a major incident at King Power Stadium.

“The club will issue a more detailed statement once further information has been established.”

East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust urged members of the public to stay away from the scene.

“We received a call at 8.38pm this evening to reports of a helicopter crash near King Power Stadium. We sent a doctor, two paramedics in ambulance cars, a crewed ambulance and our Hazardous Area Response Team, with the first resource arriving within two minutes of the call,” read a statement.

“We are currently working with our colleagues in Leicestershire Police and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service at the scene. We advise members of the public to stay away from the area while we deal with this incident.”

Srivaddhanaprabha bought Leicester in August 2010 and was named chairman in February 2011. The Thai businessman oversaw Leicester’s remarkable Premier League triumph in 2016.