'I lost 27 pints of blood and now owe my life to 27 strangers – the NHS needs more'
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A father who survived after being transfused with 27 pints of blood has called on Brits to donate to help the NHS recover from its winter crisis. The Mirror can reveal major NHS blood donor centres are trying to fill 3,300 appointments in the next week as stocks are dangerously low after the festive period.
Luke Golder’s life was saved by 27 strangers he will never meet after a mystery illness caused massive internal bleeding into his small intestines. He was losing blood faster than the NHS staff could transfuse it back into his body but after surgeons cut him open to identify the problem his life was miraculously saved after they gave him at least 27 units.
Luke, a business manager from Southend, Essex, said: “Blood donation is a form of charity like no other. Those 27 donors saved my life. I was told if they hadn’t had that amount of blood in that hospital on that day, I wouldn’t have survived.”.
Christmas and New Year is always a challenge for blood stocks as cold weather, seasonal illnesses and busier diaries lead to more unfilled and missed appointments. At the same time demand from hospitals often increases as it comes at the height of winter when the NHS is under most pressure. Christmas Day and New Year’s Day are the only days of the year that blood isn’t collected.
The new appeal comes after the Mirror launched the Give a Pint, Save a Life campaign to help blood stocks recover after the Covid-19 pandemic amid ongoing shortages. The NHS remains on Amber Alert for low blood stocks. One donation can save up to three lives.
