Australian blood donor James Harrison, who saved the lives of 2.4 million babies with a special antibody in his blood, has passed away. Australian James Harrison, known as the “golden arm,” was a savior for millions of babies suffering from blood poisoning thanks to a rare antibody in his blood.

Australian James Harrison, who saved many babies’ lives through blood donation, known as the “golden arm,” passed away. According to an announcement made by his family on Monday, James Harrison died in his sleep on February 17 at a nursing home in New South Wales, Australia. Harrison was 88 years old. Among the babies Harrison saved was his own grandchild who had a blood incompatibility with the mother.

Before the development of anti-D interventions in the mid-1960s, one in every two babies diagnosed with HDFN was dying. It is not entirely clear how Harrison’s blood became so rich in anti-D, but some reports suggest it may be related to a massive blood transfusion he received at the age of 14. According to data from the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, despite having fewer than 200 anti-D donors in Australia, they help around 45,000 mothers and babies each year. He held the world record until 2022 for the most plasma donations made in 2005, breaking the record of a man in the U.S.