He was the world’s most prolific blood donor
A man whose blood saved the lives of more than 2.4 million babies has died at the age of 88.
James Harrison donated plasma nearly 1,200 times and became known as the “man with the golden arm”.
His family confirmed that he passed away in a nursing home in Australia.
When Harrison was 14, he had lung surgery, and consequently underwent many lifesaving blood transfusions.
He was “determined to give back” in his adult life, and his blood was found to contain a rare antibody that was able to create a medicine that could stop newborns dying from Rhesus disease.
The medicine is given to pregnant mums whose rhesus negative blood has a risk of attacking the rhesus positive blood of their baby.
Harrison was last able to donate in 2018 due to Australia’s limitations stopping people donating past the age of 81.
However, over 60 years, Harrison donated blood nearly 1,200 times, and never missed an appointment over the years.
“James was a humanitarian at heart, but also very funny,” his daughter Tracey Mellowship said.
“As an anti-D recipient myself, he has left behind a family that may not have existed without his precious donations.
“He was also very proud to have saved so many lives, without any cost or pain.
“It made him happy to hear about the many families like ours, who existed because of his kindness.
“He always said it does not hurt, and the life you save could be your own.”
