Dhaka, March 3 -- James Harrison, an Australian blood donor whose plasma saved the lives of 2.4 million babies, has died at the age of 88.

He died in his sleep at a nursing home in New South Wales on Feb 17, according to his family.

Harrison was known as the man with the golden arm in Australia as his blood contained a rare antibody - anti-D, the BBC reported.

Anti-D is used to make medication given to pregnant mothers whose blood is at risk of attacking their unborn babies.

The Australian Red Cross Blood Service, who paid tribute to Harrison, said Harrison had pledged to become a donor after receiving transfusions while undergoing a major chest surgery when he was 14.

He started donating his blood plasma when he was 18 and continued...