James Harrison, an Australian blood donor whose rare plasma helped save over two million newborns, has died at the age of 88.
Harrison, known as the “Man with the Golden Arm,” passed away in his sleep on February 17 at a nursing home north of Sydney, according to a statement from Australian Red Cross Lifeblood on Saturday.
His blood contained Anti-D, a rare antibody used to produce a life-saving treatment for pregnant women at risk of rhesus disease—a condition that can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, and severe health complications in newborns.
Harrison’s commitment to blood donation began at age 18 after he received multiple transfusions following lung surgery at 14. Over six decades, he donated plasma 1,173 times, giving every two weeks until he reached Australia’s maximum donor age of 81.
Lifeblood CEO Stephen Cornelissen praised his dedication, describing him as “a remarkable, stoically kind, and generous person” whose selflessness touched families worldwide.
Harrison’s daughter, Tracey Mellowship, shared how his donations directly impacted their family. “As an Anti-D recipient myself, my family may not have existed without his generosity,” she said.
Before Anti-D treatments became available in 1967, thousands of Australian babies died each year due to rhesus disease. Harrison’s antibodies helped revolutionize maternal healthcare, making Australia one of the first countries to develop this life-saving intervention.
Recognized as a national hero, Harrison was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia, one of the country’s highest honors, for his extraordinary contributions.
