British racing driver Ollie Millroy remains hospitalized in China nearly two weeks after suffering a severe crash during the China GT Championship. The 36-year-old competitor stated that it is a miracle he survived after his Ferrari was engulfed in flames at the Shanghai International Circuit.
The accident occurred when Millroy's vehicle was struck by two other cars, sending it into the safety barriers and sparking an immediate fire. Trapped inside the burning wreckage and barely conscious for more than a minute, Millroy was ultimately saved by fellow competitor Loek Hartog. The Dutch driver immediately halted his own vehicle to rush to the rescue.
Speaking from his hospital bed, Millroy praised the flawless execution of his peer. He noted that reviewing the footage feels like watching a scripted movie scene where every action was meticulously planned. Hartog initially tried to check on the driver from the driver's side, but intense flames forced him to move to the passenger area. After grabbing a fire extinguisher to hold the blaze back, Hartog managed to force his way inside and pull Millroy clear.
Millroy sustained a punctured lung and multiple bone fractures from the heavy impact. He admitted that he has no recollection of the collision itself or the immediate hour following it, which has created ongoing psychological hurdles as his mind tries to process the trauma. Although he briefly removed his own helmet to breathe when oxygen ran out, his physical trauma kept him from escaping the vehicle on his own.
The dramatic rescue has forged a deep emotional connection between the two athletes. Millroy shared that when Hartog later recounted the rescue details during a hospital visit, both men broke down in tears. Millroy's wife, Fern, arrived at the hospital hours after the incident and has remained by his side, while their three children are being cared for by family members.
Hartog, a 23-year-old Porsche driver in international GT competition, recalled feeling a brief moment of fear as he approached the blazing machine. Recognizing that Millroy was entirely unable to extract himself, Hartog took immediate action despite nearly a minute passing before the extraction was complete. He expressed a wish that he could have acted even faster, attributing his instinct to help to his personal upbringing rather than calculated reasoning.
Event organizers released a statement following the race acknowledging that a comprehensive review and investigation of the accident would take place. They committed to addressing shortcomings related to competition setup, support systems, emergency response protocols, and medical services.
Despite the severity of his injuries, Millroy maintains an intention to return to competitive racing in the future. In the near term, Hartog is scheduled to travel back to China during the week, setting up an emotional reunion for the two drivers.
Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC Sport. Read the original report at BBC Sport.
