James Harrison, a prolific¹ Australian blood donor² famed for having saved the lives of more than two million babies, has died at age 88.

Harrison, whose plasma³ contained a “rare and precious antibody” known as Anti-D, donated blood more than 1,100 times, according to Australian Red Cross Lifeblood.



Harrison, who was known as the “Man with the Golden Arm,” died in his sleep at a nursing home north of Sydney on February 17, according to the statement.



Harrison’s altruistic⁴ mission was driven by having received multiple blood transfusions⁵ following lung surgery at the age of 14.



He started donating plasma at 18 and did so every two weeks until he was 81, the upper age limit for blood donation in Australia.