Aiyawatt  Srivaddhanaprabha, the youngest son of Leicester City’s late owner Vichai, on Wednesday offered thanks to a flood of condolences over his father’s death in a helicopter crash last Saturday and vowed to carry on with “his big vision and dreams”.

“I’m extremely proud to have such an extraordinary father,” said Aiyawatt, better known by his nickname “Top”, in an Instagram post shared by King Power’s press office.

“I’m touched by how many people kept him close to their hearts,” he said.

Aiyawatt, one of Vichai’s four children, is vice chairman of Leicester City, is expected to continue to play a major role at the football club and at the King Power duty-free business empire founded by his late father.

“He has left me with a legacy to continue and I will do everything I can to carry on his big vision and dreams,” he said. “From him I have received a very big mission and legacy to pass on … and I intend to do just that.”

Accompanying the post were photos of the father and son on various occasions.