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

Sydney, Australia — James Harrison, known as the “Man with the Golden Arm,” passed away at the age of 88 on February 17, 2025, at a nursing home in New South Wales. Renowned for his monumental impact on neonatal health, Harrison’s donations saved the lives of over 2.4 million babies worldwide.

Harrison’s plasma contained a rare antibody, Anti-D, essential for preventing hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN), a potentially fatal condition arising from Rh incompatibility between pregnant women and their unborn babies. According to Lifeblood, the Australian Red Cross blood service, Harrison contributed an astonishing 1,173 donations from 1954 until his retirement in 2018, missing no appointments throughout his extensive donation career.

“James was a remarkable, stoically kind, and generous person who was committed to a lifetime of giving,” Lifeblood CEO Stephen Cornelissen said in a statement. ”He captured the hearts of many people around the world.”

Harrison’s altruistic journey began after he received multiple blood transfusions following lung surgery at age 14. Inspired by the generosity of donors, he pledged to give back. “I was always looking forward to donating… because I don’t know how many people it took to save my life,” he recalled.

Initially, he donated whole blood, but after it was discovered that his plasma had the unique Anti-D antibody, he switched to plasma donation. This antibody became vital in creating the medication given to Rh-negative pregnant women to prevent their bodies from creating harmful antibodies against their Rh-positive babies. In Australia, approximately 17% of pregnant women need Anti-D injections, most of which are sourced from a small pool of around 200 dedicated donors.

Harrison’s efforts earned him the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1999, yet he consistently downplayed his contributions. “I’m just a donor,” he said in an interview. “Some people say, ‘Oh, you’re a hero,’ but I have no problem with it.”

His daughter, Tracey Mellowship, also an Anti-D recipient, reflected on her father’s legacy. “He was immensely proud to have saved so many lives without any cost or pain,” she stated. “It made him happy to hear about the many families like ours, who existed because of his kindness.”

Lifeblood reports that over 3 million doses of Anti-D from Harrison’s blood have been issued since the late 1960s. His impact is felt not only in his community but across the nation, with his family continuing his legacy of blood donation. Harrison’s grandson first donated plasma alongside him during his 1,000th donation.

In recent years, researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research have embarked on a project dubbed “James in a Jar.” This initiative aims to develop a synthetic version of the Anti-D antibody using Harrison’s blood and other donors’ cells, potentially revolutionizing how HDFN is treated, both in Australia and globally.

“I hope it’s a record that somebody breaks, because it will mean they are dedicated to the cause,” Harrison remarked regarding his donation achievements. Now, his legacy will not only live on through the countless lives he saved but also in the continued efforts to advance medical science in honor of his unparalleled commitment to helping others.