An Australian man credited with saving more than 2 million babies through decades of regular blood and plasma donations has died at the age of 88.

James Harrison, whose blood contained a rare antibody, died in his sleep on February 17 in a nursing home in the Australian state of New South Wales, according to the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, also known as Lifeblood.

The antibody in Harrison’s blood was used to make the anti-D drug, which is given to pregnant women whose blood can “attack” their unborn babies. Without it, babies can develop hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN), a blood disorder that can be fatal.

Despite his aversion to needles, Harrison began giving blood in 1954 at the age of 18, keeping a promise he made at 14 when he received life-saving blood transfusions as part of a major surgery.

A decade later, it was discovered that his blood contained an antibody necessary to produce anti-D injections.

Named the “man with the golden hand”, Harrison gave his blood and plasma 1,173 times, without missing a single appointment for more than 60 years, until he retired in 2018 at the age of 81.

“I hope it’s a record that someone breaks, because that would mean they’re dedicated to the cause,” he said at the time.

In total, more than 3 million doses of anti-D with Harrison’s blood have been administered to 2 million mothers in Australia since 1967. In 1999, he received the Order of Australia Medal in recognition of his support for Lifeblood and the anti-D program.

His daughter, Tracey Mellowship, who also received anti-D, said Harrison was a “humanitarian at heart“, adding that her family “might not exist without his precious donations“.