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Shocking vision emerges of helicopter crash that killed Leicester owner

Disturbing CCTV footage has emerged of the final moments before the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the life of Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others.

The vision shows the helicopter leaving the King Power Stadium just an hour after Leicester’s Premier League clash with West Ham.

But shortly after take-off, it comes spiralling back down out of control – before erupting into a ball of flames.

New CCTV video shows final moments before helicopter crash. Pic: Twitter
New CCTV video shows final moments before helicopter crash. Pic: Twitter

A cameraman watching the extraordinary scenes unfold says the pilot guided the out-of-control aircraft away from people on the ground, and into an unpopulated corner of the car park – lauding him as a hero.

“The next thing I just looked up and it was just spinning, static just out of control, just a constant spinning, I have never seen anything like it,” cameraman Dan Cox told Sky News.

A helicopter belonging to the owner of Premier League outfit Leicester City crashed outside of the club’s stadium. Pic: Twitter
A helicopter belonging to the owner of Premier League outfit Leicester City crashed outside of the club’s stadium. Pic: Twitter

“I don’t know how the pilot did it but he seemed to manage to slow down the spinning rotation and it drifted off into the corner part of the car park.”

The horrific incident also claimed the lives of Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, two members of Vichai’s staff, pilot Eric Swaffer and passenger Izabela Roza Lechowicz.

An emotional send-off for Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, as star striker Jamie Vardy comforts Vice chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha. Pic: Getty
An emotional send-off for Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, as star striker Jamie Vardy comforts Vice chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha. Pic: Getty

A witness from the ground recalled seeing the devastating incident unfold.

“The engine stopped and I turned round and it made a bit of a whirring noise, like a grinding noise,” freelance photographer Ryan Brown told BBC Radio Leicester.

“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.”

‘Hero’ helicopter pilot may have saved many lives

The pilot at the helm of the Leicester City Football Club helicopter that crashed outside of the stadium has been lauded as a hero.

Just moments after taking off from the club’s pitch, the helicopter crashed and burst into flames in the stadium car park – claiming the lives of billionaire Thai owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others on-board.

A cameraman watching the extraordinary scenes unfold says the pilot guided the out-of-control aircraft away from people on the ground, and into an unpopulated corner of the car park.

“I heard the helicopter coming out of the stadium, saw it as you do, they are amazing pieces of machinery and then I just carried on walking thinking next time I look up it is going to be overhead,” cameraman Dan Cox told Sky News.

The pilot at the helm of the tragic helicopter crash may have saved many lives. Pic: Reuters/SkyNews
The pilot at the helm of the tragic helicopter crash may have saved many lives. Pic: Reuters/SkyNews

“The next thing I just looked up and it was just spinning, static just out of control, just a constant spinning, I have never seen anything like it.

“I don’t know how the pilot did it but he seemed to manage to slow down the spinning rotation and it drifted off into the corner part of the car park.”

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Mr Cox then began filming the fiery aftermath of the crash, as two police officers on the ground tried to get close to the wreckage to assist.

“To my mind the pilot was heroic and the two police offers in front of me, who also tried to help, they are heroes too,” he continued.

“It could have been so much worse if the pilot hadn’t done that.”

Tributes flow at the King Power Stadium. Pic: Getty
Tributes flow at the King Power Stadium. Pic: Getty

with Agencies.