A tragedy unfolded in front of our eyes

I WENT to the King Power to watch a football match and ended up staring at a fireball.

In less than the time it took for Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s helicopter to drop out of the sky and burst into flames on the club car park, what had happened out on the pitch paled into insignificance.

The full extent of the tragedy might not be known for some time – but the shattering realisation of what might have been is mind-numbing.

Make no mistake – if that chopper had hit the stand or any of the streets surrounding the stadium – there could have been hundreds of fatalities.

I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen the owner’s helicopter fly over me as I’ve walked back to my car while the whirr of the blades took him high into the sky.

The sound was commonplace, normal, routine – it’s what happens an hour after a Leicester game. Saturday night was different. I’d just spoken to West Ham’s Mark Noble about his sending off in the 1-1 draw and then got five minutes with Leicester defender Ben Chilwell.

Noble was gracious, accepting that referee Michael Oliver had got it right, though he hadn’t intended to hurt anyone. He Starsport’s DAVE ARMITAGE gives his first-hand account of the tragic events that rocked Leicester on Saturday night. laughed when I suggested that Emergency crews were there he’d used up all the hot water and others came flying past, with his early shower. stewards and police shouting

I’d heard that there had been for people to get away from the no hot water and put it to Noble scene. that he might be the culprit! There was an oily, clammy

It was all light-hearted stuff kind of smell penetrating the and then it was on to the air. courteous and well-spoken It was a scene that ‘tragic’ and Chilwell, a young man just ‘horror’ are supposed to be setting out on his career. reserved for. What had

He was most concerned with happened before that was just team-mate Daniel Amartey who a football match. was stretchered off needing Yesterday I returned to the oxygen after what looked like a scene as mourners poured to serious ankle injury. the ground, leaving poignant souvenirs in remembrance of those who had died, but one man in particular.

Among the carpet of scarves and flowers celebrating glorious Champions League nights, they had left messages.

One read: “The fairytale was never supposed to end this way. Thank you for making our dreams a reality. Love The Garrods.”

“Thank you for the best days of my life,” read another.

There was an air of shock, disbelief and yet, with that, gratitude.

The man from Bangkok had indeed become a true son of Leicester.

Flames

Then, minutes after getting back into the press room, there was an eerie buzz as it became clear something had gone horribly wrong outside.

The car park told its own story.

I stood there almost having to pinch myself I hadn’t walked on to a film set by mistake.

There, no more than 100 yards away, was a fireball spitting flames some 40 feet into the air.

It wasn’t like normal fire. It was thick orange, deep and intense and you realised this was a full-blown tragedy unfolding in front of your eyes.