James Harrison, Lifesaver Known as ‘Man with the Golden Arm,’ Dies at 88

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — James Harrison, an Australian celebrated for saving more than 2.4 million babies through his extensive blood donations, passed away at age 88. Harrison died peacefully in his sleep on Feb. 17 at a nursing home in New South Wales, according to his family.

Known as the “Man with the Golden Arm,” Harrison’s blood contained a rare antibody known as Anti-D, essential in preventing hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). This disease can occur when a pregnant woman’s blood type is incompatible with that of her unborn baby, potentially causing serious health risks, including death.

Harrison donated blood and plasma 1,173 times from 1954 until his retirement in 2018 at age 81. Lifeblood, the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, confirmed the donations and his vital contributions to maternal and neonatal health. “He never missed an appointment and expected nothing in return,” Lifeblood CEO Stephen Cornelissen said.

His dedication to donating blood stemmed from a personal experience; after receiving numerous transfusions due to complications from surgery at age 14, Harrison vowed to give back. “I was always looking forward to donating, right from the operation,” he reflected. “I don’t know how many people it took to save my life.”

During his lengthy commitment, Harrison became Australia’s foremost anti-D donor, with over 3 million doses of anti-D made from his plasma distributed to expecting mothers since 1967. His altruism earned him the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1999, one of the nation’s highest honors.

His daughter, Tracey Mellowship, also benefited from Anti-D injections while pregnant. “As an Anti-D recipient myself, he has left behind a family that may not have existed without his precious donations,” said Mellowship. “He was immensely proud to have saved so many lives without any cost or pain.” She emphasized her father’s belief that blood donation is an act of selflessness, conveying that he often said, “It does not hurt, and the life you save could be your own.”

Harrison’s impact extended beyond just his immediate family. His grandson Scott made his first donation while sitting next to Harrison during his 1,000th donation, demonstrating a family commitment to giving.

Despite an intense fear of needles, Harrison showed unwavering commitment to his cause. “I’d keep on going if they let me,” he said at his retirement, expressing hope that someone would surpass his record of donations to further the lifesaving efforts.

Today, there are fewer than 200 anti-D donors in Australia, yet they collectively assist around 45,000 mothers and babies each year, according to Lifeblood. With the increasing demand for Anti-D, researchers are exploring synthetic versions of the antibody, and Lifeblood is collaborating with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research to develop these alternatives.

Stephen Cornelissen acknowledged Harrison’s extraordinary legacy, stating, “On behalf of Lifeblood and the entire Australian community, we thank James for his life-saving contributions and for the millions of lives he saved.”