Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha killed in helicopter crash fireball along with hero pilot, his co-pilot girlfriend and a beauty queen
A BEAUTY queen, a hero pilot and his co-pilot girlfriend died alongside the owner of Leicester City when a helicopter burst into flames shortly after taking off from the club's ground on Saturday.
Boss Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, 61, died in the fireball outside the King Power Stadium that claimed the lives of all five on board.
In a statement, Leicester City Football Club confirmed that no one survived the crash.
Hero pilot Eric Swaffer, 53, and his girlfriend Izabela Roza Lechowicz, 46, were among those killed.
Mr Swaffer is understood to have saved hundreds of lives by steering it away from fans and a hotel in a "dead man's curve".
Cameraman Dan Cox said: “The pilot was heroic. That helicopter could have crashed into the stadium, into the media compound where TV crews were packing up, or into the car park where I was.
“He crashed in part of the grounds or car park where there wasn’t anyone. It could have been so much worse if the pilot hadn’t done that.”
His friend Lucie Morris-Marr told the SunOnline how the couple travelled the world, with Mr Swaffer often saying that working together was like being on a "permanent holiday".
She called Eric the "ultimate professional" and "one of the most joyful and funny people I’ve ever met".
Cops say Nusara Suknamai, a pal of billionaire Vichai and a runner-up in Miss Thailand Universe 2005, died in the crash. Glamorous Suknamai regularly posted images with top footballers at the club.
"Both Tuesday's First Team fixture against Southampton in the EFL Cup and the Development Squad fixture against Feyenoord in the Premier League International Cup have been postponed.
"Everyone at the Club has been truly touched by the remarkable response of the football family, whose thoughtful messages of support and solidarity have been deeply appreciated at this difficult time."
Izabela came to the UK in 1997 after finishing a degree in Poland.
A neighbour of the couple in Camberley, Surrey, said Eric had texted them that evening but messages stopped around the time of the crash.
Sources say Nusara Suknamai, a pal of billionaire Vichai and a runner-up in Miss Thailand Universe 2005, died in the crash.
Tributes were paid to her on social media last night.
The fifth victim was the owner’s right-hand man Punpare, nicknamed Golf.
Vichai’s wife and four children are said to have been in Bangkok.
The helicopter took off from the halfway line just over an hour after the full-time whistle at 7.25pm on Saturday.
It was due to head to Luton Airport so Vichai could fly home to Thailand.
But witnesses said it was clear there was a problem with the tail rotor.
Mr Cox, who works for Sky, added: “I heard the helicopter come out of the stadium.
“I looked up and it was just spinning in the same position, out of control. I’d never seen anything like it.
“Then, and I don’t know how, the pilot seemed to somehow slow down the spinning rotation and it just drifted off into that corner part of the car park. Two police officers in front of me also tried to help. They are heroes too.”
Aviation expert Philip Amadeus owns the Surrey firm that operated two helicopters on behalf of the club. Mr Amadeus sometimes piloted the craft and was regularly pictured with it.