British racing driver Ollie Millroy says he owes his life to a rival racer who pulled him from his burning car following a horror crash in Shanghai.
Millroy's Ferrari burst into flames during a China GT3 Championship race on Saturday, prompting Dutch driver Loek Hartog to abandon his Porsche and rush to help.
Hartog grabbed a fire extinguisher and doused the flames before pulling Millroy from the wreckage.
Moment race driver pulled from burning car by 'superhero' competitor - Watch on TVNZ+
The British driver suffered six broken ribs, a broken collarbone, a broken hand, a broken finger and a bruised lung, but said the crash "could've been much worse".
"I am still alive tonight, entirely thanks to one man," Millroy wrote in a social media post.
"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.
"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.
"Thank you Loek. I owe you my life for your selfless act today."
Hartog responded to Millroy's post, saying he had "nothing to thank me for".
"I wish to live in a world where this would not be considered as bravery but as instinct of others too," the Dutchman wrote.
"I am so thankful to have been right at the place I needed to be in space and time. Speedy recovery and we will stay in close touch."
In an update yesterday, Millroy's wife said he remained in a stable condition in hospital after undergoing "successful surgery".
She said the family felt fortunate he had survived the crash.
"The overwhelming feeling that we all have is an enormous amount of gratitude and love towards Loek Hartog, who saved Ollie’s life," she wrote.
Millroy's team, AAI Motorsport, has since said it would no longer compete in races organised by China GT, criticising the event's safety standards and accusing organisers of negligence.
China GT organisers apologised following the crash, saying it would investigate and review any shortcomings around competition organisation, emergency response, rescue and medical services.
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