‘Man with the Golden Arm’: Country’s most prolific blood donor dies aged 88
An Australian hero who gained international recognition for saving the lives of more than two million babies has died aged 88.
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James Harrison OAM, the country’s most prolific blood and plasma donator, has died at the age of 88.
Often referred to as the “Man with a Golden Arm”, the NSW man gained international recognition for saving the lives of 2.4 million Australian babies by donating his plasma more than 1100 times in six decades.
He died in his sleep on Monday, February 17 at Peninsula Village nursing home, his family confirmed.
Mr Harrison’s journey donating blood and plasma started after undergoing lung surgery at 14 years old. He was required to enter intensive care and received multiple blood transfusions.
Inspired by his father, who was a regular blood donor, Mr Harrison was determined to give back to those who helped him.
He first gave blood in 1954 at the age of 18, returning to the Red Cross every fortnight to donate blood and plasma to those in need.
Mr Harrison’s plasma contained anti-D, a rare and precious antibody used to make medication to fight haemolytic disease of the foetus and newborn (HND), a rare and potentially fatal condition in which a pregnant woman’s body destroys the baby’s red blood cells.
Mr Harrison’s commitment to donating plasma spanned more than six decades, giving his precious plasma every fortnight until his retirement in 2018 at the age of 81.
He never missed a single appointment.
His daughter and fellow anti-D recipient, Tracey Mellowship, said her father was a “humanitarian at heart” but also had a great sense of humour.
“In his last years, he was immensely proud to become a great-grandfather to two beautiful grandchildren, Trey and Addison,” she said.
“As an anti-D recipient myself, he has left behind a family that may not have existed without his precious donation.
“He was also very proud to have saved so many lives without any cost or pain.
“It made him happy to hear about the many families like ours who existed because of his kindness.
“He always said it does not hurt, and the life you save could be your own.”
Lifeblood chief executive Stephen Cornelissen recalled Mr Harrison’s unwavering generosity.
“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,” he said.
“It was James’s 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.”
Mr Harrison “expected nothing in return” for his donations and continued donating “even in his darkest days”, including after the death of his wife Barbara, who also was a frequent donor.
“He leaves behind an incredible legacy, and it was his hope that one day, someone in Australia would beat his donation record,” Mr Cornelissen said.
“On behalf of Lifeblood, and the entire Australian community, we thank James for the incredible lifesaving contribution he made and the millions of lives he saved.”
Originally published as ‘Man with the Golden Arm’: Country’s most prolific blood donor dies aged 88
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