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James Harrison: Australian legend who saved 2.4 million babies passes away

Researchers hope to replicate Harrison’s antibodies in the lab to help pregnant women worldwide

Updated: Mar 03, 2025 08:19 AM EST

Harrison was widely known as the man with the golden arm because his blood contained Anti-D, a crucial antibody used to protect unborn babies from a life-threatening condition called hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN).

In this disorder, a pregnant mother’s immune system perceives her baby’s red blood cells as a threat, potentially causing severe anemia, heart failure, or even death in the developing infant. Before Anti-D treatments became available in the mid-1960s, half of the babies diagnosed with HDFN did not survive.

James Harrison: From fear to philanthropy

According to the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, also known as Lifeblood, Harrison had pledged to become a donor after receiving a massive transfusion during a major chest surgery at age 14. Despite having a fear of needles, he began donating as soon as he turned 18. Early tests revealed that his blood carried robust antibodies against the D Rh group antigen, making him an ideal donor for Anti-D treatments.

Harrison donated blood plasma every two weeks until he was 81, completing 1,173 donations by May 2018. He held the world record for the most blood plasma donated until 2022. Commenting on his record, he once remarked that he hoped someone would surpass him because that would mean they, too, had reached a thousand donations. 

In recognition of his services, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1999. He was also nominated in the New South Wales Local Hero division of the Australian of the Year awards, in 2011.

Beyond the numbers, Harrison’s legacy is also reflected in the personal stories of those he helped. His daughter, Tracey Mellowship, noted that both she and two of his grandchildren received anti-D immunizations.

According to her, it brought Harrison great joy to learn about families who thrived because of his life-saving plasma donations. “He always said it does not hurt, and the life you save could be your own,” Mellowship told the BBC.

Replicating anti-D antibodies in the lab

There are fewer than 200 regular Anti-D donors in Australia, but they help around 45,000 mothers and their babies every year. Lifeblood has teamed up with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research to replicate Anti-D antibodies from Harrison and other donors in the laboratory. 

The goal is to develop a synthetic version that could benefit pregnant women globally. Lifeblood’s research director, David Irving, has called such a breakthrough a “holy grail,” given the scarcity of consistent donors with sufficiently high-quality antibody production.

While the exact reason behind Harrison’s unique blood chemistry remains uncertain, some accounts suggest it was linked to the blood transfusion he received as a teenager.

Whatever the origin, his generosity and commitment to regular donation transformed what might have been a personal medical curiosity into a profoundly impactful medical resource. Today, countless families owe their children’s survival to Harrison’s lifelong dedication.

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47 YEARS AGO - During a July 20, 1975 concert, between songs Elvis was joking around and giving out scarves when he noticed a little girl standing on the far left of the stage. He walked over and knelt down on one knee in front of her.

Realizing she was blind, Elvis held her hands and spoke to her for a few minutes. The audience could not hear as he kept the microphone away from his mouth. He then kissed his scarf and touched both her eyes with it. When he was finished he took the scarf and held it to the child's face. The little girl stood there with complete confidence in what Elvis was doing. The girl had been blind since birth.

Elvis talked to the girl's mother after the concert and paid for the surgery to restore her sight. Today she is a computer graphic artist.

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