Ollie Millroy crash: Wife says ‘can’t believe he’s alive’ as Loek Hartog hailed ‘superhero’ after China GT fireball

British racing driver Ollie Millroy is recovering in a Shanghai hospital after surviving a huge crash that left his Ferrari engulfed in flames during a China GT race. Millroy, 36, suffered broken ribs, a broken collarbone, a broken hand and finger, and a bruised lung. His wife, Fern Millroy, said she still cannot believe he survived and credited Dutch driver Loek Hartog with saving his life. Hartog, 23, stopped his own Porsche, ran to the burning Ferrari and pulled Millroy out. Millroy later said he owes his life to the rival who risked his own safety to help him.Ollie Millroy’s wife Fern gives update after Shanghai crashFern said Millroy underwent surgery and was being closely watched at the hospital. She wrote: “Surgery went well yesterday. It took several hours, main work being his right hand. He now has metal along the entirety of his clavicle right side, metal inside his right hand, six broken ribs supported with a compression wrap and on high flow oxygen whilst his lung recovers.”She added that doctors tried to take him off oxygen, but his oxygen level was too low. Fern also thanked the hospital staff and said more X-rays and a CT scan were planned.“I still can’t believe he’s alive, purely down to our real life superhero Loek Hartog,” she wrote.The crash happened during the China GT race at Shanghai International Circuit on Saturday. Millroy’s Ferrari was hit during a multi-car accident and quickly caught fire. Video from Hartog’s car shows the Dutchman stopping and running towards the wreck.Hartog first tried to reach Millroy from the driver’s side. He then used a fire extinguisher to fight the flames before pulling Millroy from the other side of the Ferrari. Motorsport.com reported that the rescue took about 49 seconds from the time Hartog left his car.Loek Hartog explains why he stopped for Ollie MillroyMillroy later thanked Hartog from his hospital bed, saying: “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.”He added: “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.”Hartog said he did not think twice after seeing the Ferrari turn into a fireball.“When I saw a car turning into a huge fireball far ahead, there wasn’t really a decision to make,” he wrote. “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.”He also admitted the rescue was frightening, saying there were moments when he did not know if he could get Millroy out. Still, Hartog said the focus should not be on him and that many people in the same situation would have reacted similarly.Millroy remains in hospital in Shanghai. His condition has been described as stable, while his recovery continues after the serious injuries suffered in the crash.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.