James Harrison, who was recognised by the Guinness World Records as the person who had donated the most blood plasma in the world, has passed away in New South Wales, Australia
A hero dad who is credited with saving 2.4 million babies through his record-breaking blood plasma donations over six decades has died aged 88.
Despite being scared of needles, James Harrison had donated the most blood plasma in the world in 2005, according to Guinness World Records. It helped save the lives of millions of infants, and earned Mr Harrison the nickname of the “Man with the Golden Arm”.
But the retired railway department clerk has died at a nursing home in New South Wales, Australia, after making 1,173 blood donations. His grandson, Jarrod Mellowship, said: “He did it for the right reasons. As humble as he was, he did like the attention. But he would never do it for the attention.”
Mr Harrison gave his first donation in 1954 aged just 18 and continued to do so until he was 81. In 2022, his epic record was beaten by Brett Cooper, from Walker, Michigan.
The great-grandfather was credited with saving the lives of 2.4 million babies through his plasma donations, the national agency responsible for collecting and distributing blood products, also known as Lifeblood, said in a statement.
Mr Harrison’s plasma contained a rare antibody known as anti-D. The antibody is used to make injections that protect unborn babies from a deadly condition called Haemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn, or HDFN. The disease causes a pregnant woman’s immune system to attack the fetus’s red blood cells.
Australia has only 200 anti-D donors who help 45,000 mothers and their babies annually. Lifeblood chief executive Stephen Cornelissen said Harrison had hoped that someone in Australia would one day beat his donation record.
He added: “James was a remarkable, stoically kind and generous person who was committed to a lifetime of giving and he captured the hearts of many people around the world.”
“It was James’ belief that his donations were no more important than any other donors’ and that everyone can be special in the same way that he was,” Cornelissen added.
Mr Mellowship said his mother, Tracey Mellowship, Harrison’s daughter, needed the treatment when he and his brother Scott were born. Mr Mellowship said his own wife, Rebecca Mellowship, also needed the treatment when three of their four children were born.
“After the surgery, his dad Reg told grandad you’re only really alive because people donated blood. The day he turned 18, he started donating,” Mr Harrison added.
Mr Harrison was born in Junee in New South Wales. He is survived by his sister Margaret Thrift, his daughter, two grandsons and four great grandchildren.
