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Britain's most prolific blood donor has given 400 pints - enough to save over 1,000 lives

Colin Harrison, 64, first started giving blood after he got divorced in 1983

Colin Harrison has donated blood every three months since 1983. (SWNS)
Colin Harrison has donated blood every three months since 1983. (SWNS)


Generous Colin Harrison has spent 30 years becoming Britain’s most prolific blood donor - after giving 400 pints.

Colin, 64, has helped save the lives of a staggering 1,200 adults or 4,800 children since 1983.

But the grandad-of-two says he will now have to stop donating after the scar tissue on his arm became too thick for a needle to penetrate.

The retired social worker first started giving blood after he got divorced from his wife in 1983.

Colin will have to stop donating after the scar tissue on his arm became too thick for a needle to penetrate. (SWNS)
Colin will have to stop donating after the scar tissue on his arm became too thick for a needle to penetrate. (SWNS)


He has since donated a pint of blood every three months at Nottingham Donor Centre, clocking up a staggering 227 litres or 50 gallons.

Colin says he puts his generosity down to the free tea and biscuits – and a good conversation with the friendly nurses.

Colin, from Carlton, Notts, said: 'I just wanted to do something to give to other people.

'I had just got divorced and I was feeling remorseful and emotional and I just wanted to put something back into society; that was the initial reason.

'It was a very sudden decision to make and I just thought it's easy, absolutely painless, easy to do and everyone can do it.

'It's terrific and there's nothing to it really, it's very simple and easy to do and you make such a difference. I just think everyone should do it.’

Just one per cent of blood donors across the country give more than 100 pints – a target that he has smashed fourfold.

Dad-of-four Colin, who also volunteers to help the elderly, also donated plasma as often as every two weeks.

Medics can use the plasma –which helps blood to clot and prevents bleeding – to give transfusions to people who are undergoing chemotherapy, have leukaemia or are about to have an organ or bone marrow donation.

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Colin is now urging other people to give blood after he donated his 400th and final pint last week.

He added: 'I've just stopped donating.  I feel I've done enough and the scar tissue on my arm has built up over the years and it's really tough to get in there now.


Amanda Eccles, from NHS Blood and Transplant, said: 'We would like to say a huge thank you to Colin for his dedication to blood and platelet donation over the years.

'Taking time to donate blood is one of the most selfless and generous things you can do to help others and we hope that people will be inspired to start donating blood after reading his story.'