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Leicester City Foxes Foundation charity has been renamed The Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation in honour of its late chairman and owner.

Khun Vichai tragically died when his helicopter crashed outside the King Power Stadium shortly after take off following the Foxes’ home game against West Ham on Saturday, October 27.

Nusara Suknamai, 32, an assistant to Mr Srivaddhanaprabha, Kaveporn Punpare, 33, a personal assistant who was employed by the football club, pilot Eric Swaffer, 53, and his girlfriend and co-pilot Izabela Roza Lechowicz, 46, also died in the incident.

The 60-year-old chairman, who took over the club in 2010, made more than £4million in personal donations to local hospitals, universities and charities across the city and county in recent years.

(Image: Nigel French/PA Wire)



It is this generosity and kindness, together with leading City to Premier League glory in the 2015/16 season, that has prompted an outpouring of grief from the Blue Army, players and staff - and inspired heartfelt tributes from the wider community and the football world at large in the last 10 days.

Since its formation in 2011/12, the Foundation has raised almost £2million for local charities.

It has helped fund a renovation of Leicester Royal Infirmary’s Children’s Outpatient Ward, and life-saving equipment desperately needed by the Children’s Intensive Care Unit.

A Leicester City spokesman said: “The LCFC Foxes Foundation aimed to use football as a force for good in the community.

“Under its new name, The Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation will continue to build on that life-changing work in a way that reflects the generosity, care and love of a man who made over £4million in personal donations to the city’s universities, hospitals and charities in recent years.”

Among the dozens of local causes supported by the Foundation since it was first formed in 2011 are the Leicester Hospitals Charity, the city’s LOROS hospice and Rainbows Children’s Hospice, in Loughborough.

Funds have also paid for the installation of life-saving defibrillators in key areas around Leicestershire.

An inquest into their deaths was opened by Catherine Mason, the senior coroner for Leicester City and South Leicestershire, at the Town Hall, today.

A senior detective told the hearing that there was very little chance of anybody getting in or out of the helicopter.

The inquest was adjourned.

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