British racing driver Ollie Millroy is recovering after a fiery crash in the China GT event at Shanghai International Circuit, an incident his wife credits rival Loek Hartog with saving his life.
Millroy, 36, was racing when his Ferrari was struck by two cars and sent spinning off the track, erupting in flames. Video footage shows Hartog, a Dutch driver, stopping his own race to pull Millroy from the wreckage.
Millroy's wife, Fern, provided an update on his condition from a Shanghai hospital, stating that surgery on his right hand took several hours. He sustained extensive injuries, including metal implants along his right clavicle and in his right hand, six broken ribs, and a bruised lung requiring high-flow oxygen.
"I still can't believe he's alive, purely down to our real life superhero @loekhartog_," Fern Millroy wrote, crediting Hartog's swift action. "Tried to come off the oxygen but his O2 level was just too low. He is in great care at this fantastic hospital in Shanghai and we can't thank the staff here enough."
Millroy, who married Fern in October 2021 and has three young children, expressed his gratitude to Hartog from his hospital bed. "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," Millroy stated.
He added that he has no memory of the crash or the hour following it but will remember Hartog's bravery. "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. "I'm laying here tonight with 5 broken ribs, broken collar bone, broken hand and finger and a bruised lung, but it could have been much worse. Thank you Loek. I owe you my life for your selfless act today."
Hartog, 23, described the incident as scary, noting that he acted without hesitation. "When I saw a car turning into a huge fireball far ahead, there wasn't really a decision to make," he said. "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."
Hartog also shared that he has been overwhelmed by the support from the racing community. "I feel incredibly lucky to be part of a racing community that looks after each other the way this one does," he stated. "Thank you for all the messages and support sent to Ollie, his wife and family, and also to me and my family. It really means a lot."