James Harrison, the Australian blood donor whose rare plasma helped save more than two million babies, has passed away at the age of 88.
Harrison, known as the “Man with the Golden Arm,” had a unique antibody in his plasma—Anti-D—used to create a life-saving treatment for rhesus disease. Over the course of his lifetime, he donated blood more than 1,100 times, according to Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, which confirmed his death in a statement on Saturday.
He passed away peacefully in his sleep at a nursing home north of Sydney on February 17.
Harrison’s lifelong commitment to blood donation stemmed from his own experience at age 14 when he required multiple transfusions following lung surgery. At 18, he began donating plasma regularly and continued every two weeks until he reached Australia’s donation age limit of 81.
Lifeblood Chief Executive Officer Stephen Cornelissen praised Harrison’s extraordinary dedication.
“James was a remarkable, kind, and generous individual who devoted his life to helping others. His selfless acts touched countless lives, and he never expected anything in return,” Cornelissen said.
Harrison’s daughter, Tracey Mellowship, reflected on his legacy, noting that his donations had a direct impact on their own family.
“As an Anti-D recipient myself, I know our family might not exist without his generosity. He took great pride in saving so many lives, and it brought him immense joy to hear about families like ours who owe their existence to his kindness,” she said.
Rhesus disease occurs when a pregnant woman with Rh-negative blood carries a baby with Rh-positive blood, potentially leading to serious complications or even infant death. Harrison’s unique antibodies were used to create Anti-D injections, preventing women with Rh-negative blood from developing harmful antibodies during pregnancy.
Before this discovery, thousands of babies in Australia died each year from the condition, while others suffered severe brain damage or multiple miscarriages. In 1967, Australia became one of the first countries to develop the life-saving treatment, thanks to donors like Harrison.
Harrison’s contributions earned him widespread recognition, including the prestigious Medal of the Order of Australia, one of the country’s highest honors.
His legacy lives on in the millions of families he helped create.
