Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha: Difference between revisions

[[Khun (courtesy title)|Khun]] '''Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha''' ({{lang-langx|th|วิชัย ศรีวัฒนประภา}};{{efn|{{RTGS|Wichai Siwatthanaprapha}}, {{IPA-|th|wí.tɕʰāj sǐː.wát.tʰā.ná.prā.pʰāː|pron}}}} born '''Vichai Raksriaksorn''', {{lang-langx|th|วิชัย รักศรีอักษร}};{{efn|{{RTGS|Wichai Raksi-akson}}, {{IPA-|th|rák.sǐːʔàk.sɔ̌ːn|pron}}}}{{efn|Thai people are referred to by given name; the subject was mostly known as Khun Vichai.<ref name="Khun Vichai">{{cite news |last=Eldfurst |first=Simon |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/thai-owner-ofleicester-city-has-thecommon-touch-397491.html |title=Thai owner of Leicester City has the common touch |newspaper=[[Irish Examiner]] |date=4 May 2016 |access-date=31 October 2018}}</ref>}} 4 April 1958 – 27 October 2018) was a Thai [[billionaire]] businessman and the founder, owner, and chairman of [[King Power]]. He was the owner of [[Premier League]] team [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] from 2010 until [[2018 Leicester helicopter crash|his death in a helicopter crash]] atjust outside the club's [[King Power Stadium]] in 2018.

Vichai Raksriaksorn was born into a [[Thai Chinese]] family.<ref name="legal evening"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/v-vichai-how-leicester-citys-thai-owner-became-billionaire-blessing-prayer-1554828|title=V for Vichai: How Leicester City's Thai owner became a billionaire – on a blessing and a prayer|first=Orlando|last=Crowcroft|date=15 April 2016}}</ref> His father, Wiwat Raksriaksorn ({{lang-zh|徐利明}}) traces his roots to [[Zhao'an County|Zhao'an]], [[Fujian]], China.<ref name="legal evening">{{cite news|title=莱斯特城泰国老板有华人血统 想为中国足球尽份力|url=http://www.chinanews.com/ty/2016/05-18/7875029.shtml|work=[[Legal Evening News]]|location=Beijing|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520143205/http://www.chinanews.com/ty/2016/05-18/7875029.shtml|archivedate=2016-05-20|date=2016-05-18|last=张骜}}</ref> Vichai was married to Aimon Srivaddhanaprabha, with whom he had four children: Voramas, Apichet, Aroonroong, and [[Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha|Aiyawatt]].<ref name="SKY">{{cite news |title=Thai billionaire owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha brought Leicester their greatest days |url=https://news.sky.com/story/who-is-leicester-owner-vichai-srivaddhanaprabha-11537927 |access-date=28 October 2018 |publisher=Sky News |date=28 October 2018}}</ref> In 2012, the [[Monarchy of Thailand|King of Thailand]] [[Bhumibol Adulyadej]] bestowed the family the new surname of Srivaddhanaprabha,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/may/04/thai-billionaire-leicester-city-vichai-srivaddhanaprabha|title=The Thai billionaire whose gamble on Leicester just paid off |date=4 May 2016|work=The Guardian|access-date=1 June 2018|last=Holmes|first=Oliver}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lcfc.com/news/434490/royal-honour-for-city-owners|title=Royal Honour For City Owners|date=1 February 2013|website=Leicester City F.C.|access-date=1 June 2018}}</ref> which means "light of progressive glory".<ref name="SKY" /> He was awarded an [[Honorary degree|honorary doctorate]] as a [[Doctor of Law]]s by the [[University of Leicester]] in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=University of Leicester honour for Leicester City F.C. chairman |url=https://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/press/press-releases/2016/january/university-of-leicester-honour-for-leicester-city-f-c-chairman |website=University of Leicester |access-date=28 October 2018 |archive-date=28 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028190313/https://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/press/press-releases/2016/january/university-of-leicester-honour-for-leicester-city-f-c-chairman |url-status=dead }}</ref> As a young man, Vichai studied in Taiwan and the United States.<ref>{{cite news |title=Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/oct/29/vichai-srivaddhanaprabha-obiutary |access-date=28 August 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=29 October 2018}}</ref>

On 27 October 2018, Vichai's [[AgustaWestland AW169]] helicopter [[2018 Leicester helicopter crash|crashed outside King Power Stadium]] shortly after taking off from the pitch. Eyewitnesses described seeing the helicopter spinning before crashing and creating a fireball.<ref name ="BBC crash">{{cite news| title=Leicester City owner's helicopter crashes| url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-46006470 |work=BBC News |date=27 October 2018}}</ref> The next day, it was confirmed that Vichai, along with the pilots and two other passengers had died in the crash.<ref>{{cite news |title=Leicester City confirm chairman's death |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-46013381 |website=BBC News |access-date=28 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=King Power Stadium incident |url=https://leics.police.uk/news-appeals/news/2018/10/28/king-power-stadium-incident-five-believed-dead |website=Leicestershire Police |access-date=28 October 2018 |archive-date=28 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028224000/https://leics.police.uk/news-appeals/news/2018/10/28/king-power-stadium-incident-five-believed-dead |url-status=dead }}</ref> Numerous tributes were laid for Vichai outside the stadium by players along with fans of Leicester City and other football clubs.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Collier |first1=Hatty |title=Leicester helicopter crash: Tributes laid at King Power stadium |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/leicester-helicopter-crash-tributes-laid-at-king-power-stadium-after-helicopter-used-by-owner-vichai-a3973726.html |access-date=28 October 2018 |work=London Evening Standard |date=28 October 2018}}</ref> In accordance with Thai burial customs, Vichai's funeral lasted for eight days, beginning on 3 November.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-46057980| title= Leicester City helicopter crash: Funeral arrangements made in Thailand|work=[[BBC News]]| date=1 November 2018| access-date=1 November 2018}}</ref> Vichai wasis fondly remembered by Leicester supporters.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-50183682 | title= Leicester City helicopter crash: 'It still doesn't feel real' |work=[[BBC News]]| date=27 October 2019| access-date=29 May 2023}}</ref>

[[Category:Victims of helicopter accidents or incidents in the United Kingdom]]