Ollie Millroy, driver of the FIST Team AAI Ferrari, escaped death after his car erupted in flames during a horrific crash at the China GT Championship. The incident unfolded when David Chen of Harmony Racing and Neil Verhagen of 610 Racing lost control and collided at the hairpin, involving Millroy who was sent spinning off the track.
Millroy, a British driver, suffered severe injuries: five broken ribs, a broken collarbone, a broken hand, a broken finger, and a bruised lung. He is now receiving intensive care in hospital and will undergo surgery to repair the damage.
Heroic Act That Changed Everything
Loek Hartog, driving for Phantom Global Racing, became the hero of the day. He stopped his car at the scene and pulled Millroy from the burning wreckage before safety crews arrived. Hartog even attempted to extinguish the fire before the race was red-flagged and eventually abandoned.
In a social media post, 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."
Millroy also described Hartog as the "biggest superhero in history" in the eyes of his children. "One day I will tell our three kids this story and Loek will be the biggest superhero in history in their eyes too," he wrote.
Hartog's Reflection: More Than Racing
Hartog admitted he had no doubts about stopping to help. "When I saw a car turning into a huge fireball far ahead, there wasn't really a decision to make. I stopped, got out, and went towards the car. There was never a moment of doubt," he said.
For him, the incident taught him the meaning of living in the present. "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; I'm sure many people in the same position would have reacted exactly the same way," Hartog explained.
He also expressed gratitude for safety standards often taken for granted. "When you see an accident that violent and a fire that intense, you gain an enormous appreciation for the safety standards we sometimes take for granted," he concluded.
Read Also
Looking for the best 125cc naked bike under i4,000? Compare the Voge 125R, Rieju NKD 125, Suzuki GSX-S125, Macbor Shifter, and Honda CB125F. Which one suits you best?
Volkswagen crisis triggers Ducati sale evaluation. CEO Domenicali speaks on Borgo Panigale's future. Read the full analysis.
BMW R20 ready for production! BMW Motorrad's most extreme Big Boxer concept moves to final phase. See the homologation changes making it road-ready.
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!