This is the moment a British racing driver’s Ferrari bursts into flames – before a heroic rival rushes to his rescue.
Ollie Millroy, 36, had been racing in a China GT event at Shanghai International Circuit when two cars smashed into his Ferrari while navigating a bend.
In video footage of the incident, Millroy’s vehicle is seen spiraling off the track while aggressive flames and huge plumes of smoke billow above it.
Rival Dutch driver Loek Hartog is then seen pulling up beside the wreckage before hurriedly unbuckling his seat belt and jumping out – sacrificing his chances of winning the event in the process.
Through a camera near the driver’s seat of Hartog’s car, the 23-year-old can then be seen desperately rummaging through the Ferrari’s remains in a bid to free Millroy, who had become trapped in the fireball.
But Hartog could not initially pull the Brit to safety, meaning he had to scramble to find a fire extinguisher to put out the blaze.
Fire crews then arrive to combat the fire while Hartog and track staff pull Millroy away from the fireball.
Eventually, the clip cuts to show Hartog and Millroy perched on a wall by the side of the track after the Brit was miraculously pulled to safety.
A British driver almost lost his life after a horrific crash China GT event sent his vehicle up in flames
Ollie Millroy was left trapped inside a Ferrari which was sent spiraling off the track
Rival Dutch driver Loek Hartog (right) however sacrificed his place in the race to pull the Brit to safety
Millroy (left), who suffered serious injuries in the crash, later took to X to thank Hartog for ‘saving his life’
The Brit suffered significant injuries in the crash, but thanked the Dutchman for ‘saving his life’.
Sharing a picture from his hospital bed, Millroy wrote: ‘I am still alive tonight, entirely thanks to one man. @loekhartog_ stopped instantly with no flag marshalls 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 1 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.
‘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, meanwhile, posted on his own social media: ‘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.’
