
A young footballer with Premier League leaders Leicester narrowly escaped a horrifying accident as he emerged from a helicopter ferrying the side's stars to an awards ceremony.

Demarai Gray appeared to be walking into the spinning tail rotor of the helicopter moments after it came into land at London's Battersea Heliport.

Gray, who was with this season's star turn Riyad Mahrez ahead of the PFA Awards, was screamed at by stewards who then escorted him away from the area.

Demarai Gray (centre) survived a close shave with a helicopter put on by Leicester to take the players to the PFA Awards in London

The youngster had to be stopped in his tracks by a steward as he headed in the direction of the tail rotor at Battersea Heliport

The club had put on a fleet of five helicopters to ensure the players got down to the award ceremony on time

The whole Foxes squad where flown down after their thumping 4-0 win over Swansea that saw them stretch their Barclays Premier League lead to eight points.

With Mahrez, Jamie Vardy and N'Golo Kante all nominated, the club wanted to make sure the players made it to Grosvenor House on time after their Sunday afternoon kick-off.

The club paid for a fleet of five helicopters to fly the Foxes from their Belvoir Drive base to Battersea Heliport for quick hop to west London for the ceremony.

That need for speed almost cost Gray, 19, as he bounded off the chopper ahead of the rest of his group.

Gray and his team-mates including award winner Riyah Mahrez landed at the Battersea Heliport

The winger stepped out of the aircraft and was clearly directed by the stewards standing by to be cautious

Gray hopped out the aircraft looking casual in a tracksuit and hat with the blades still spinning above him

Seemingly unaware of the stewards' instructions Gray took a wrong turn towards the rear of the aircraft

Looking casual in a tracksuit and cap, the winger made a wrong turn and headed straight towards the spinning blades at the rear of the aircraft.

Seemingly unaware of the peril he was headed directly into, Gray had a lucky escape when a quick-thinking steward ordered him to stop.

The teenager was just yards away from the blades spinning at hundreds of revolutions per minute.

The steward quickly steps in as Gray heads towards the certain peril of the rapidly spinning blades

Riyad Mahrez could only watch on in horror as the incident unfolded in front of his eyes

With Mahrez looking on apparently shocked from the helicopter door, Gray was unable to turn back and had to be directed around the back of the chopper away from the propeller.

Another steward came around from the other side of the aircraft and appeared to reprimand the youngster before escorting him to safety.

A sheepish looking Gray headed for the safety of the terminal, no doubt grateful for the steward's intervention.

From there night improved as Mahrez picked up the Player of the Year gong and Vardy collected a commemorative plate for breaking the league's consecutive goal record.

Gray joined the club from Birmingham in January for a £3.75million fee. He featured as a substitute in the 4-0 drubbing of Swansea on Sunday

Another steward came around from the other side of the helicopter and appeared to have words with Gray