Coven Covid survivor becomes UK's most prolific plasma donor
A man from South Staffordshire has become the most prolific donor of blood plasma in the country after his 24th donation.
Darren Buttrick, from Coven, contracted Covid-19 in March and was put on a ventilator in intensive care at New Cross Hospital.
Now, since making a recovery from the virus, he has chosen to donate his blood plasma in a bid to help protect those in need.
It has seen him being named the country’s most prolific donor – and has led to him being forced to stop due to government rules.
The father-of-three said: “I used to be a very competitive runner. For my 20th donation they said I would be the most prolific.
"I’ve since done my 24th and had my 25th donation booked, but they said we’re going to have to cancel and they said ‘you’re only allowed to donate 24 times’ in a year – and they never thought anyone would hit that.
“I’ve donated that in nine-and-a-half months and I can donate again on April 25, but they’ve said nobody can catch me now – it’s set in stone.
"For me, they’ve checked my levels of antibodies and said I was quite unique – I still have them 11 months on and they’re still very high.”
Darren was admitted to hospital in March last year after returning home from a business trip to London and tested positive for the virus.
His condition soon worsened as NHS staff told him he had 15 minutes to call his loved ones in what could have been his last ever phone call.
But he pulled through and has since been sharing his story to motivate others to donate plasma and to “give back” to the NHS which saved his life.
Dr Gail Miflin, chief medical officer for the NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) centre in Wolverhampton, said: “Convalescent plasma is a precious resource and the whole world is now focusing on early treatment, before organ damage and hospitalisation.
“Antibodies stop the virus, they don’t treat the damage it does.
"This could particularly help the most vulnerable people, such as the elderly.”
