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An elaborate funeral has begun for Thai billionaire and Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who died last week when his helicopter crashed in a car park next to the English Premier League club\u2019s stadium.<\/p>\nAn elaborate funeral has begun for Thai billionaire and Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who died last week when his helicopter crashed in a car park next to the English Premier League club\u2019s stadium.<\/p>\n
The royally sponsored funeral was being held at a temple in Bangkok and guests included top government officials, businessmen and other public figures.<\/p>\n
The first ceremony began on Saturday, with other ceremonies scheduled until November 9.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a very difficult time for his family and I\u2019m here to show support,\u201d said Kiattisak Senamuang, a former Thai national soccer team coach and player who noted that Vichai was always supportive of soccer projects in Thailand. \u201cMay Vichai rest in peace.\u201d<\/p>\n
The grounds of Wat Thepsirin were heavily guarded by scores of security officers.<\/p>\n
White sheets were lowered to stop outsiders and media viewing the proceedings. However, the chanting of monks, amplified by loud speakers, could be heard resonating around the temple\u2019s grounds.<\/p>\n
Leicester City\u2019s players plan to travel to Bangkok to attend Vichai\u2019s funeral after their match with Cardiff City on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The crash in which Vichai was killed happened about an hour after the club\u2019s match against West Ham on October 27.<\/p>\n
The Thai billionaire oversaw one of the greatest underdog successes in sport when his 5,000-1 outsiders won the English Premier League title in 2016.<\/p>\n
In an era of often-absentee foreign owners in the Premier League, Vichai also broke the mold by forging close ties with supporters and the local community.<\/p>\n
The business world remembers Vichai as the retail entrepreneur who grew Thailand\u2019s massive King Power duty-free chain.<\/p>\n
Today, the King Power empire is worth \u00a33.8 billion (\u20ac4.3 billion), according to Forbes, with Vichai having been the fifth-richest person in Thailand.<\/p>\n
A devout Buddhist who had monks bless his team\u2019s King Power Stadium regularly for good luck, Vichai and his wife, Aimon Srivaddhanaprabha, had four children.<\/p>\n
He was born Vichai Raksriaksorn, but in 2012, the king of Thailand recognized his achievements by bestowing on his family their new surname, which means \u201clight of progressive glory\u201d.<\/p>\n