davieG

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14276335/Leicester-City-helicopter-crash-inquest-tragedy-chairman.html Leicester City helicopter crash inquest begins as police officers' desperate act to try and save victims is revealed - after five people including club chairman died in 2018 tragedy A report in 2023 found that the crash was 'ineavitable' due to safety failings The former chairman's family have launched a £2.15bn compensation claim Published: 17:00, 13 January 2025 | Updated: 17:00, 13 January 2025 The inquest into Leicester City's tragic 2018 helicopter crash heard on Monday how police officers tried desperately to break the vehicle's windscreen after it came down. Five people including the club's chairman Khun Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, 60, were killed in the accident which saw the helicopter engulfed in flames after crashing. The aircraft had spun out of control just seconds after taking off from Leicester' King Power Stadium, violently tailspinning into wasteland near the ground before being engulfed in flames. Last week the club's billionaire Thai owners launched a legal battle with the helicopter's manufacturer, an Italian company called Leonardo SpA, seeking £2.15billion in compensation. It is the largest fatal accident compensation claim in English legal history. A report in September 2023 found that there were safety concerns regarding the aircraft, that Leonardo could have made important modifications to prevent the crash, and that the the pilot was unable to prevent the crash following a tail rotor failure. It found the crash to be 'inveitable' and said the pilot could have done 'very little' to stop it. At Monday's inquest, jurors were shown footage of two police officers, who had been driving nearby, arriving at the scene within a minute of the crash. The inquest into the helicopter crash which killed Leicester chairman Khun Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others in 2018 has begun The inquest heard how police officers tried to break the windscreen of the aircraft after it came down (pictured: pilots Eric Swaffer and Izabela Roza Lechowicz) The helicopter had come to rest on its left-hand side and neither of the doors could be accessed. Thus, one of the officers used a baton to try and break the windshield to see if they could help. However, the coroner was told Catherine Mason was told that the windshield was a 'very strong structure' designed to withstand crashing into a bird at 180mph. In a statement released ahead of the inquests, Khun Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, the son of Khun Vichai, who succeeded his father as Chairman of Leicester City, said: 'My family embraces the inquest process and look forward to the explanation into how and why my father lost his life, and what has been done to ensure that other families will not suffer the same terrible pain of loss that has been inflicted on us.' Kate Lechowicz, the sister of Izabela Lechowicz, added on behalf of the Lechowicz and Swaffer families: 'Waiting for the inquest has been tormenting, leaving many unanswered questions and frustrations lingering for over 6 years since the tragic loss of our Eric and Izabela. 'Aviation safety was close to their hearts, they will be avidly watching this from afar keen to see changes that will prevent such disasters in the future. Our children will never get to know their aunt and uncle, the adventures they had, except through the pictures we have in our home and the stories we tell from our memories. We still miss them terribly.' The pen portrait of Mr Srivaddhanaprabha continued: 'His positive energy was contagious and he maintained that through hard work and discipline. He was always two steps of everyone else. 'Khun Vichai was a man of honour. Those who worked with him and signed a contract with him got his word….He made sure he signed all his staff's birthday cards. 'He always mentioned to us the importance of his staff. He showed no signs of slowing down. Fellow passengers Nusara Suknamai (right) and Kaveporn Punpare (left) died in the crash The helicopter, which was deemed to have had safety concerns in 2013, set on fire after falling The helicopter, which was deemed to have had safety concerns in 2013, set on fire after falling A report in 2023 deemed that the crash had been 'inevitable' due to safety failings A report in 2023 deemed that the crash had been 'inevitable' due to safety failings Extensive tributes were laid outside the King Power Stadium in the wake of the tragedy Extensive tributes were laid outside the King Power Stadium in the wake of the tragedy 'In 2004 he established the King Power Foundation which supports adults with mental health problems and disadvantaged children. 'He also established Leicester City's Foxes Foundation which aims to support local and national causes. Since it's formation in 2011-12 the foundation has raised almost £2m for local charities.' In the 2023 report, a haunting cry from the pilot, Eric Swaffer, 53, was revealed from when the helicopter was spinning out of control. 'I've no idea what's going on,' he had cried. Under Srivaddhanaprabha's ownership after he bought them in 2010, Leicester City were promoted to the Premier League in 2014, stayed up in 2015, and won the title against 5,000-1 odds in 2016. He, pilot Swaffer, his employees Nusara Suknamai, 32, and Kaveporn Punpare, 33, and Swaffer's partner and professional pilot, Izabela Roza Lechowicz, 46, all died. The inquest, which is expected to last three weeks, will examine the mechanical cause of the crash.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/leicester-city-helicopter-crash-vichai-34472584 Leicester owner's tragic last gesture seconds before helicopter crash Former Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, 60, was among five people tragically killed in a helicopter crash following a Foxes fixture in October 2018 ByMartin FrickerSenior Reporter 16:55, 13 Jan 2025Updated16:57, 13 Jan 2025 Leicester City’s tragic Thai owner waved and gave a thumbs up to club staff seconds before he died in a helicopter crash, an inquest heard. Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, 60, died alongside pilots Eric Swaffer, 53, and Izabela Roza Lechowicz, 46, in October 2018. The billionaire tycoon’s personal butler Kaveporn Punpare, 33, and assistant Nusara Suknamai, 32, also died in the tragedy. They were killed when the helicopter spun out of control and burst into flames between two car parks at the King Power Stadium. It had taken off seconds earlier to take Mr Srivaddhanaprabha and his staff to London after the match against West Ham. Inquests into the five deaths began in Leicester - more than six years after the tragedy. Leicester City’s director of football Jonathan Rudkin broke down in tears as he gave evidence to the hearing. He told the inquest how he sat alongside Vichai during the game and later met him in his office after the match. Mr Rudkin said the club chairman checked on the condition of a player who had suffered a serious injury. He later walked him across the pitch to board the helicopter - before watching in horror as the aircraft crashed. Mr Rudkin said: “The chairman was the last one to get in. I walked back to pitch side and stood and waited for his departure “It seemed like two or three minutes, then the rotors got started. The chairman always waved and raised his thumb. The helicopter seemed to hold its position, then made a turn. That evening it just continued to turn and then went into a spin. “As soon as it went on that first full circle I just thought, ‘This is strange’. I realised something was seriously wrong. It was a really fast rotation, then it started to nose-dive away from the stadium, still rotating in the air. “I started to react, thinking ‘this unfortunately looks like it’s going to be crashing’. I turned and started to run back down the tunnel. I saw stewards and medic people, I was shouting to get a message that we need medics urgently round the back of the stadium. “I rang through the opposite end of the tunnel and jumped straight into my car. I proceeded to the back of the stadium. I could see the helicopter had landed in the distance and there were flames. “All I could see as I got closer was the flames from the helicopter. Then some police stopped me and said I could not advance any further due to safety. They were in fear of further explosions “I asked if they had managed to pull people out of the helicopter, but at that stage you certainly got the feeling that sadly nobody had got out.” Mr Rudkin broke down as he paid tribute to Vichai. “He made a remarkable impression not only on the football club but also the city,” he said. “He helped achieve the impossible dream. “Once we heard that the chairman hadn’t survived the accident everyone was in complete shock, right across the football club. He made such a huge impact on football and the community. “People came from far and wide to the football club to pay their respects. I can’t imagine what it was like for the family.” Jurors were shown the body-cam footage of hero Leicestershire Police officer Sgt Michael Hooper, one of the first on the scene. He was driving in his patrol car with another colleague when the chopper plunged from the sky metres away from them. The body-cam and dash-cam footage showed him desperately trying to break the cockpit windscreen to rescue the victims. But the hearing at Leicester city hall was told the glass was designed to withstand an 180mph bird strike and could not be smashed. Further footage showed the police sergeant racing back to his vehicle to fetch a fire extinguisher to battle the flames. But tragically the five victims could not be saved and died as the blazing helicopter turned into a fireball. An Air Accidents Investigation Branch report published in September 2023 said a tail rotor system failure was to blame for the crash. Senior coroner Prof Catherine Mason described the horrific crash as a “tragic, well-known accident”. Mark Jarvis, AAIB principal inspector, talked jurors at Leicester city hall through the doomed flight. The helicopter initially left Fairoaks Airport in Surrey before heading to Battersea Heliport to collect Vichai and his staff. CCTV images were shown in the inquest of the aircraft later landing at Leicester City’s former training ground. After the match Eric and Izabela flew the helicopter from the training ground and landed on the stadium pitch. Asked if that was usual, Mr Jarvis said: “It was, and there was an approved procedure for doing that.” CCTV images showed Vichai, Kaveporn and Nusara leaving the tunnel area and walking onto the pitch to board the helicopter. The helicopter was due to fly to Stansted Airport so Vichai could catch a private jet to Thailand. Video footage recorded by a supporter was aired showing the aircraft taking off from the pitch. It then made a right turn and went into a spin before plunging out of view into an open area between two car parks. Bystanders inside the stadium could be heard on the video uttering “s**t, s**t” as the helicopter went into a spin. Mr Jarvis said it struck a concrete and brick step at 8.37pm before landing on its belly and coming to a rest on its left hand side. The impact punctured the fuel tank, causing a significant fuel leak. Mr Jarvis told the hearing: “A fire started very rapidly and consumed the whole helicopter.” He said Sgt Hooper’s desperate attempts to put out the fire with his extinguisher were futile. “It would have been an extreme fire,” said the expert. The extinguisher would not have been able to do anything. The heat would have been intense.” Two fire engines arrived at the scene less than six minutes after the crash. The blaze was extinguished six minutes later. The three-week jury inquest began by hearing ‘pen portrait’ tributes to the five victims. Philip Shepherd, counsel on behalf of Vichai, read out a tribute to the billionaire from his family. “He was the leader of our family, a caring and devoted husband. A caring father, uncle and grandfather,” read the statement. “We feel the loss of him as much as we have ever done. “He was a good man with a good heart. He was a great inspiration to us all and we all love him very much. It’s impossible to put him into words. He possessed all of the best qualities. “He was adored for his kind spirit, generosity, charm, sense of humour and intellect. The fact that his grandchildren will never know him compounds our suffering every day “His first granddaughter, Love, was born one month before his death. In that short time he showed her unconditional love. On his last trip to England he went shopping for gifts for her. He would have done anything and everything for her. “Before he died he told his daughter he would work until Love was 20 years old. His plan was to stay healthy and ensure their future and financial legacy “He was a family man, he took care of all of us. He was a man with boundless energy. Innovation and entrepreneurial were instinctive to him.”

Dundee Football Club can confirm that midfielder Sammy Braybrooke has left the club after being recalled from his season-long loan by his parent club Leicester City. Sammy joined The Dee on the 28th August 2024 and during his time played eight times for the Dark Blues. Everyone at the club would like to thank Sammy for his service and contribution to the club and wish him well for the rest of his career. https://dundeefc.co.uk/news/braybrooke-leaves/

Dundee Football Club can confirm that midfielder Sammy Braybrooke has left the club after being recalled from his season-long loan by his parent club Leicester City. Sammy joined The Dee on the 28th August 2024 and during his time played eight times for the Dark Blues. Everyone at the club would like to thank Sammy for his service and contribution to the club and wish him well for the rest of his career. https://dundeefc.co.uk/news/braybrooke-leaves/

Leicester Past & Present ~ A walk down Memory Lane. LEICESTER PAST: Granby Halls 1959. Photograph of interior of Mrs A. Holland's Dodgem, taken at Holland's Christmas Fair, 5th December 1959.

If the PL14 don’t like the rules why don’t they vote to change them because some like LCFC have delusions of being in the top 6

If you’re going that far you may as well go to a single authority which we had in the not too distant past

Leicester Memories Peter Taylor · 38m · Fresh Produce on the Leicester Market 1914 .

https://psgtalk.com/2025/01/man-city-psg-jeremy-monga/ Paris Saint-Germain have never been afraid to sign promising young teenage talent, Xavi Simons and Cher Ndour come to mind. As a result, the capital club appear ready to head to that well again, but face competition. Under sporting advisor Luis Campos, the Parisians are targeting young talent and, if it’s possible, French. The Ligue 1 side are steering clear of big-name stars as they look to build a team with manager Luis Enrique instead of relying on individual skills. A new report reveals that the capital club could be looking to add an English player to their youth system and be a gem in their academy. Could PSG lure an English player to the French capital? Jeremy Monga Paolo Bruno/Getty Images Fichajes reported on Sunday that Manchester City and PSG have set their sights on 15-year-old winger Jeremy Monga, who plays for Leicester City’s Under-18 team. Nonetheless, the report claims that the Foxes are unwilling to let their promising player go so soon. The young winger has impressed with his dribbling, explosive speed, and knack for assisting and scoring goals. Despite his age, his maturity and technical ability on the pitch have made him a standout player in Leicester’s youth ranks, catching the eye of several top-tier clubs.

The orange ones were sold frozen

We had the orange juice ones which came back in 2015 apparently No, Jubbly ice lollies are not discontinued. In fact, Calypso brought back the iconic tetrahedral-shaped ice lollies in 2005 after they had been off the shelves for over 20 years. The lollies are now made with real fruit juice and mineral water, and are available in four fruity flavors. The "Lovely Jubbly" slogan for the original Jubbly ice lollies was popular in the 1950s and 1960s. The campaign is said to have inspired the catchphrase from the TV show Only Fools and Horses.

It was known locally as a Prep School but for Borstal.

Murder Ball was a favourite for the big guys. At the end of every P E lesson we had to run around Viccy Park last one home got a big rubber slipper across their arse which was often me with the big fat lad being excused. I hated PE, in the summer we only played Rugby as Van Hopkins the Radio Leicester Rugby commentator was our Deputy Head. I was always made to be the hooker.

“Harvey’s been really unfortunate this year because he has played very well when he has been given the opportunity so I’ve got no issue with Harvey’s performances – and that’s quite rare when a player’s not playing, that I can say he’s performed really well,” Howe said. “Look at his goal tally – he’s still up there as one of our leading scorers this season. The problem that I’ve had is fitting Harvey and Anthony Gordon into the same team, two outstanding players who play the same position. “Harvey could easily get a run in the team, and I do believe he’ll be a consistent goalscorer for us or goal creator for us because that’s always been his way. “When he’s played this season, especially as a substitute, he’s been fantastic for us. He’s really scored some vital goals and made some big contributions to us winning or drawing games.”

It’s always going to be difficult for young midfielders to get their chance as the position they play in is the heart of any team and the risk for the manager the greatest.

If we can only have one statue it would need to be Vardy however something like a Walk of Fame like the Hollywood one we could satisfy the majority of fans legends with a special large one with all the league winning team on it. The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a landmark which consists of 2,800[1] five-pointed terrazzo-and-brass stars embedded in the sidewalks

We had to move after 10 minutes it looked like I piss in my pants

I don't think it was leaks more the frost on the girders thawing with all the heat from the crowd below rising.

Maybe why the KP extension has not moved forward, well we can hope.

This, it's really not definable for some it will be the first player who made them fall in love with football, others because they admire their sublime skills, then there's their loyalty and length of service. It's all so subjective. I don't even think in terms of legends I think more about players I admire because of those attributes and I don't really rank them I have a long list but will say Davie Gibson was my first love.

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/13286575/happy-birthday-jamie-vardy-the-premier-leagues-greatest-wind-up-merchant Watch some of birthday boy Jamie Vardy's greatest-ever wind-up celebs in the Premier League over the years.

"One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we've been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We're no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It's simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we've been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back." ~Carl Sagan