Race car driver says he owes his life to rival who pulled him from burning car

Race car driver Ollie Millroy says he owes his life to rival racer Loek Hartog who pulled him from a burning car at the China GT.

British racer Millroy and Hartog were both competing in the first race of the China GT on Saturday (5 September).

But 20 minutes into the race, Millroy’s Ferrari was hit on the side following a collision between two other cars, causing it to burst into flames.

The Shanghai race was immediately red flagged and quick-thinking Hartog jumped out of his own vehicle and began to tackle the blaze with a fire extinguisher before dragging Millroy from the vehicle.

In a post on Instagram, Millroy wrote: “I am still alive tonight, entirely thanks to one man.

“Loek Hartog stopped instantly with no flag marshals or fire crews in sight, and risked his own life to get me out of the car.

“I don’t remember anything between 30 seconds before the crash and one hour after it, but I will remember his incredible act of bravery for the rest of my life.

“One day I will tell our three kids this story and Loek will be the biggest superhero in history in their eyes too.”

Millroy said he had sustained five broken ribs, a broken collar bone, a broken hand and finger and a bruised lung in the incident but said it ‘could have been much worse’.

“Thank you Loek. I owe you my life for your selfless act today,” he wrote.

He went on to thank his fans for their messages of support and said he was going to ‘rebuild, recover’ and then ‘get back on the horse’.

Hartog has since responded to the post, telling Millroy he was glad he was in a position to help.

He wrote: “You have nothing to thank me for. I wish to live in a world where this would not be considered as bravery but as instinct of others too. I am so thankful to have been right at the place I needed to be in space and time. Speedy recovery and we will stay in close touch.”

In another post on his own Instagram page, Hartog said: "When I saw a car turning into a huge fireball far ahead, there wasn't really a decision to make.

"From what I had seen, I genuinely believed the driver might not be able to get out by himself. I stopped, got out and went towards the car. There was never a moment of doubt.

"It was scary. There were moments where I didn't know I would actually be able to get Ollie out.

"But this isn't about what I did, and I'm sure many people in the same position would have reacted exactly the same way."

AAI Motorsport, Millroy’s team, said it ‘will no longer participate in any races organised by China GT’.

It said the car was burning ‘for more than a minute’ and asked: "What might have happened if that driver hadn't stepped up today?”

In a statement after the incident, China GT said: “We will further review and investigate the accident and formulate more comprehensive plans to address shortcomings in competition organisation, support, emergency response, rescue and medical services.”