The thoughts of everyone at Leicester Tigers are with friends and neighbours at Leicester City FC following the tragic incident at their King Power Stadium on Saturday evening.

The helicopter belonging to the football club’s chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha crashed outside the stadium shortly after the Premier League match against West Ham, just as Tigers players and supporters were arriving back in the city following a Premiership Rugby Cup game against Saracens.

On Sunday evening City confirmed in a statement that Srivaddhanaprabha was among those to have lost their lives in the crash.

Tigers chairman Peter Tom CBE said: “We are deeply saddened by the news of events on Saturday evening.

“Leicester remains the Sporting Capital and all of our clubs have enjoyed each other’s successes. The football club’s remarkable Premier League title win in 2016 under Vichai’s ownership attracted unprecedented interest to the city from around the world and his commitment to the club has made a lasting contribution to the city and county.

“On behalf of everyone at the Tigers, I send sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, to the families of all those lost in the crash and to everyone associated with the football club at this time.”

A club statement released by Leicester City said: “It is with the deepest regret and a collective broken heart that we confirm our Chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, was among those to have tragically lost their lives on Saturday evening when a helicopter carrying him and four other people crashed outside King Power Stadium. None of the five people on-board survived.

“The primary thoughts of everyone at the Club are with the Srivaddhanaprabha family and the families of all those on-board at this time of unspeakable loss.

“In Khun Vichai, the world has lost a great man. A man of kindness, of generosity and a man whose life was defined by the love he devoted to his family and those he so successfully led. Leicester City was a family under his leadership. It is as a family that we will grieve his passing and maintain the pursuit of a vision for the club that is now his legacy.

“A book of condolence, which will be shared with the Srivaddhanaprabha family, will be opened at King Power Stadium from 8.00am on Tuesday for supporters wishing to pay their respects. Supporters unable to visit King Power Stadium that wish to leave a message can do so through an online book of condolence, which will be made available via lcfc.com in due course.

“Both Tuesday’s first-team fixture against Southampton in the EFL Cup and the Development Squad fixture against Feyenoord in the Premier League International Cup have been postponed.

“Everyone at the club has been truly touched by the remarkable response of the football family, whose thoughtful messages of support and solidarity have been deeply appreciated at this difficult time.”