“Meet the Unsung Hero: How One Man’s Extraordinary Gift of Blood Became a Lifeline for 2.4 Million Babies”
Thanks to his donations, James Harrison is believed to have saved the lives of some 2.4 million babies. Now, even after his death at age 88 on February 17, his legacy will live on, as researchers continue to use his plasma to develop lab-grown anti-D to help pregnant women the world over.
The Death Of Blood Donor James Harrison, The “Man With The Golden Arm”
dpa picture alliance/Alamy Stock PhotoJames Harrison prepares for his last blood donation in 2018.
On February 17, 2025, 88-year-old James Harrison passed away in his sleep at a nursing home in New South Wales, Australia. His family announced the heartbreaking news on March 3, sparking worldwide tributes for one of history’s most prolific plasma donors.
When he was just 18 years old, Harrison started donating plasma to help Australians in need. His blood contained high levels of a rare antibody called anti-D, earning him the nickname the “man with the golden arm.” To this day, researchers are unsure why Harrison’s plasma contained so much anti-D, but they believe a blood transfusion he received during a surgery of his own when he was 14 years old may have been the cause.
This antibody has been used to create medications for pregnant women suffering from Rhesus D, a type of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn, or HDFN. Prior to the mid-1960s, when anti-D interventions were developed, HDFN killed one out of every two babies who were afflicted by it.
James Harrison donated his plasma about twice a month from the age of 18 to 81 — making him, at one point in time, the all-time record holder for most blood plasma ever donated. In total, James Harrison donated blood 1,173 times. His contributions are believed to have saved 2.4 million babies in Australia, according to the Australian Red Cross.
Post Comment