Boy, 13, who lost 12 pints of blood thanks donors

5 hours ago

Jonathan MorrisSouth West

Elliott spent three days in an induced coma after his transfusions

NHS Blood and Transplant A child lies in a hospital bed connected to multiple tubes and monitoring wires, including a breathing tube, with medical equipment surrounding the bed. Soft toys are tucked beside the child. — Elliott spent three days in an induced coma after his transfusions

A teenage boy who lost 12 pints of blood after an operation has thanked donors for giving him "the birthday I didn't think I would have".

Elliott Wills, 13, from Truro, had catastrophic bleeding after complications following routine surgery last October. Doctors told his family to prepare for the worst as he lost blood faster than it could be transfused.

A team of 20 medics worked for three hours to save Elliott, who was given 23 units of blood, about 12 pints (seven litres). He survived thanks to emergency O negative blood, which can be given to anyone.

Elliott's story emerged as the NHS warned supplies of vital blood types were falling and urged potential donors to step up.

NHS Blood and Transplant A child wearing glasses sits indoors in a softly lit room, wearing a red football shirt and a gold-coloured chain necklace. Behind the child, there is a shelf with a small stuffed toy and a green container. — Elliott is back playing football again

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Elliott, who has a blood disorder called spherocytosis, had been admitted to the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children for the operation.

Elliott's father Phill, 53, said an emergency alarm had gone off and a doctor had told him: "It doesn't look good", adding that Elliott had lost a large amount of blood.

He said that suddenly people appeared from nowhere and "a chain of porters came running past me carrying bags of blood", and that as Elliott was taken away, Phill said he had had just enough time to tell him he loved him.

Phill said the surgeon had explained that it had been a race against time to get donated blood into him, but that he had been losing that too.

When he saw Elliott had lost seven litres he thought it was a typo.

"Surely no-one can survive losing that much blood," he said. "But Elliott is living proof they can, as long as the vital supplies of donated blood are there."

Elliott thanked blood donors who helped save his life

NHS Blood and Transplant A child sits upright in a hospital bed surrounded by medical equipment, with a blood transfusion bag and monitoring devices visible above and beside the bed. — Elliott thanked blood donors who helped save his life

Elliott spent three days in an induced coma after his transfusions and three weeks recovering in hospital.

He is now back at school and playing football again. He said: "Thank you to everyone who gives blood. It helped saved my life. If you are thinking of giving blood please do.

"I'm looking forward to my 14th birthday on June 29th, a birthday I didn't think I would have."

The NHS needs over 155,000 new donors to give blood this year to ensure it has the right mix of donors to meet the needs of patients.

NHS Blood and Transplant said the number of donors with O negative and B negative blood had fallen by 5% since 2020.

Director Gerry Gogarty said Elliott's experience had shown how donations saved lives and urged more people to come forward, adding: "You don't need to know your blood type. You may discover you have one of the 'missing types' that patients need right now."

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