Dutch Racer Saves Brit From Fiery Crash in China

A split-second decision by a 23-year-old Dutch racing driver saved a father of three from burning alive in his car during a championship race in China.

Ollie Millroy, 36, was competing in the China GT Championship at Shanghai International Circuit 11 days ago when his Ferrari was hit by two other cars. The vehicle immediately caught fire and slammed into safety barriers, trapping a barely conscious Millroy inside.

Dutch driver Loek Hartog saw the flames and instantly stopped his own race. He sprinted to the burning car and spent 59 seconds fighting to free Millroy from the inferno.

"He acted instantly and he did everything right," Millroy told BBC Sport from his hospital bed. "Watching the video back, it looks like you're watching a movie and everything's rehearsed."

Hartog tried multiple approaches to reach Millroy before grabbing a fire extinguisher to beat back the flames. He finally managed to reach inside the burning cockpit and pull the British driver to safety.

Millroy, who suffered several fractures and a punctured lung, has no memory of the crash or the rescue. "It's a miracle I'm alive," he said. "If you look at the photos and videos of the car, the fact I've got out without life-changing burns or even the fact I'm alive, it's a miracle."

The crash has created an unexpected bond between the two racers. When Hartog visited Millroy in the hospital and explained what happened, both men broke down in tears together.

Why This Inspires

Hartog's actions show what happens when human compassion overrides competitive instinct. The young racer didn't hesitate to sacrifice his race position to save a fellow driver, acting on instinct shaped by how he was raised.

"I don't know why I went there, why I chose to help him," Hartog said. "There was no reasoning. It was how I have been taught, how I grew up in some way."

Millroy's wife Fern has been by his side since flying to China hours after the crash, leaving their three children with family. She's never met Hartog but says she already loves the man who saved her husband.

"It's incredible how you can instantly love someone you've never met before," Fern said. "To love someone who has just taken care of my soulmate and father of our three children, it's incredibly significant."

Hartog is flying back to China this week so the two drivers can reunite properly. Beyond their personal meeting, both men plan to work together on improving safety standards in motorsport racing.

"You don't have to be a bad guy to be a great sportsman," Millroy said. "Loek made a decision that day he was going to prioritize something else other than sport, and that's what saved my life."