A teenage boy who lost seven litres of blood has issued a heartfelt plea for more people to donate the blood type that saved his life. Elliott Wills, 13, from Cornwall, was bleeding faster than donated blood could be transfused after a main artery burst last year. He spent three weeks in hospital but has now returned to playing football with friends and is preparing to celebrate his 14th birthday.
Rare Blood Disorder
Elliott has spherocytosis, an inherited condition affecting red blood cells that can cause severe anaemia. His blood type is B negative, a rare type, and he requires regular transfusions to stay well. Complications from a virus led to the removal of his spleen and gall bladder in October. Although the surgery went well, a main artery burst afterwards, and his family was told to prepare for the worst.
A Race Against Time
Elliott was bleeding donated blood as fast as it could be transfused. A team of 20 staff spent three hours trying to save him. He received 23 units of blood, equivalent to seven litres – three times his body's circulatory volume. He was saved by emergency supplies of O negative blood, which can be given to anyone.
His father Phill, 53, said: "The surgeon said Elliott basically lost all his blood. It was a race against time to get the donated blood into him. But he was losing that too."
Mother's Ordeal
Elliott's mother Gill could not travel to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children due to health reasons and stayed at home in Truro with his 12-year-old sister Marnie. Mr Wills added: "When Elliott's notes said he'd lost seven litres I thought it was a typo. Surely no-one can survive losing that much blood? But Elliott is living proof they can, as long as the vital supplies of donated blood are there."
Declining Donor Numbers
According to NHS Blood and Transplant, the number of regular donors with O negative and B negative blood has dropped 5% since 2020. Around 107,000 donors with O negative blood donate regularly, some 6,000 fewer than six years ago.
Elliott spent three days in an induced coma after transfusions and three weeks recovering in hospital. He is now back at school and playing football. He said: "Thank-you to everyone who gives blood. It helped saved my life. If you are thinking of giving blood, please do. My mummy Gill had major spinal surgery back in March and also needed lots of blood. I'm looking forward to my 14th birthday on June 29, a birthday I didn't think I would have. Thank-you blood donors for my gift of life."
Heroes Among Us
Mr Wills added: "Elliott is kicking a ball about again and that is because blood donors gave him a second chance at life. While Elliott was packing his hospital bag, someone out there was donating the blood that would save his life. Donors are heroes and so are the NHS teams who get the blood from the donor's arm into the veins of a desperately ill patient like Elliott."
Gerry Gogarty, director of blood supply for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "For Elliott, blood donations not only ensured he survived a life-threatening bleed, but also helped him to manage the blood disorder he lives with. His experiences shine a light on just some of the many ways that donors save and improve lives every day. The NHS needs more people to give blood to help people like Elliott. All donations are vital but new donors with O negative, B negative and Ro blood are especially needed. You don't need to know your blood type as you will find out after your first donation. Please register today and book an appointment. You may discover you have one of the 'missing types' that patients need right now."
