James Harrison, ‘Man with the Golden Arm,’ Dies at 88 After Saving Millions of Babies

James Harrison, the Australian blood donor whose rare plasma helped save 2.4 million newborns, has passed away at the age of 88.

A Lifesaving Legacy

Harrison, known as the “Man with the Golden Arm,” died in his sleep at a nursing home in New South Wales on February 17, his family confirmed. His unique blood contained the rare Anti-D antibody, which has been used to protect babies from a deadly blood disorder.

Harrison began donating blood at 18 after surviving major chest surgery as a teenager, during which he received multiple transfusions. He pledged to give back, donating his plasma every two weeks for more than 60 years, until he was forced to retire at 81 due to Australian donation regulations.

A Rare and Precious Gift

Harrison’s plasma was used to create Anti-D injections, a treatment for Haemolytic Disease of the Foetus and Newborn (HDFN)—a condition where a mother’s immune system attacks her unborn baby’s red blood cells. Before the Anti-D intervention was developed in the 1960s, one in two babies diagnosed with HDFN died.

His daughter, Tracey Mellowship, expressed pride in his dedication.

“He was very proud to have saved so many lives, without any cost or pain,” she said. “It made him happy to hear about families like ours that exist because of his kindness.”

Remarkably, Mellowship and two of Harrison’s grandchildren are among the countless individuals who have benefited from Anti-D treatment.

A Record-Breaking Donor

In 2005, Harrison was officially recognized as the world’s most prolific blood plasma donor, a title he held until 2022, when he was surpassed by a donor in the US.

Despite fewer than 200 Anti-D donors in Australia, they continue to support around 45,000 mothers and babies annually, according to the Australian Red Cross Blood Service (Lifeblood).

Advancing His Lifesaving Work

With Harrison’s retirement, Australian researchers have been working to grow Anti-D antibodies in the lab by replicating immune cells from Harrison and other donors.

“Creating a new therapy has long been a ‘holy grail’ in medical research,” said David Irving, research director at Lifeblood, highlighting the ongoing challenge of finding donors capable of producing antibodies at sufficient levels.

Harrison’s extraordinary generosity has not only transformed lives but also paved the way for future medical breakthroughs that could help pregnant women worldwide.