James Harrison, a renowned Australian blood donor, has died at 88 after donating plasma over 1,100 times. His “rare and precious” Anti-D antibodies saved the lives of more than two million babies. The 14-year-old who received multiple life-saving blood transfusions inspired his lifelong mission to donate.
Harrison’s altruistic efforts were driven by a personal experience and his dedication continued until age 81. Lifeblood CEO Stephen Cornelissen hailed Harrison as “remarkable, stoically kind, and generous.” His daughter, Tracey Mellowship, described him as a “humanitarian at heart” who saved countless lives without expecting anything in return.
Anti-D is used to prevent rhesus disease, where a mother’s antibodies attack her baby’s blood cells. Harrison’s discovery of his Anti-D antibody led to a significant breakthrough in saving thousands of babies worldwide. Before 1967, Australian doctors were baffled by high infant mortality rates and unsuccessful pregnancies, but the discovery of Harrison’s antibodies changed everything.
Harrison was awarded numerous honors for his generosity, including Australia’s highest honor, the Medal of the Order of Australia. His selfless gift has left a lasting impact on the lives of families around the world, thanks to his remarkable 1,173 plasma donations.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/03/health/james-harrison-blood-donor-death-scli-intl/index.html