Ayrton Senna once saved F1 star's life on track as he stopped car 'exploding'

Ayrton Senna once saved a rival's life by stopping his own car in the middle of a session and rushing over to lend emergency assistance. The three-time world champion was killed 31 years ago today in a tragic accident at the San Marino Grand Prix. He is fondly remembered as one of the greatest drivers in history and is worshipped in his native Brazil to this day.

Two years before his death, Senna's bravery helped to save the life of a fellow driver following a huge crash at Spa-Francorchamps. During a practice session ahead of the in 1992, Erik Comas was knocked unconscious after losing control at the notorious Blanchimont corner. Modern cars navigate the iconic left-hander at full speed, exceeding 190 miles per hour.

Comas crashed into a wall on the right side of the circuit, with his car eventually coming to a halt in the middle of the track. Senna was coming up behind the Frenchman and immediately pulled over when he saw the smoking wreckage ahead of him.

He sprinted over to help his colleague and noticed that since Comas was unconscious, his foot was still pinned on the throttle. To prevent the car from overheating and potentially blowing up the engine, Senna reached into the cockpit and switched it off.

The man from Sao Paulo also provided first aid before the marshals and emergency responders took over. Comas later credited Senna's quick thinking with stopping him from being killed in a fiery explosion.

Recalling the incident in an interview with , he said: "I was unconscious in the car accelerating like crazy. Ayrton arrived and directly heard the crazy sound produced by the engine. The motor was screaming at 7000 to 8000 RPM or something.

"He stopped his car, he ejected himself from it and at his own risks came to my car and stop the engine. Even with the yellow flags, the circuit was still very dangerous.

"He searched for the circuit breaker and stopped the motor, preventing it from burning or even exploding. After the impact it seems that there were some leaks of fuels. In a few seconds it could have exploded, so Ayrton Senna probably saved my life."

Comas was at Imola when Senna was killed in 1994, retiring from the race before the chequered flag. He reflected: "When I came up to the Tamburello corner, the medical helicopter and ambulances were already there.

"I saw Ayrton was already on a stretcher, so I stopped my car. I was in the middle of the track a few feet away from the drama. There was a message that Ayrton was a man who sort of radiated and it felt like an atomic bomb just exploded at Tamburello.

"There was a very heavy atmosphere and I knew it was something bad. A paralysis came over me because I was standing next to a man who saved my life and I couldn't do anything to help him. That felt horrible."