Prolific Somerset blood donor may have saved up to 1,000 lives
Watch Ben McGrail's report here.
A man from Somerset may have helped save the lives of more than a thousand people after reaching a huge blood donation milestone.
Steve Stone, who lives in Monkton Heathfield near Taunton, recently gave his 350th unit - thought to be one of the highest number of donations in the country.
Steve’s been regularly donating since the 1980s and began when he "bunked off from college" with a friend.
He said: "We got a morning off to go and give blood at Southmead. We were doing something good and bunking off so it was worth doing!"
Over the years Steve has donated blood, plasma and platelets. He also encourages more people to donate when they can.
He said: "Three out of four of my daughters work for the NHS, my wife had a transfusion when the eldest was born - it is worth it. It's got to be there in case they can save a life."
Tracey Alford, NHS Blood and Transplant’s Senior Sister for the Taunton Team, said: “We’d like to congratulate and thank Steve for his incredible dedication and commitment to reach 350 whole blood and platelet donations.
"Every donation can help up to three people, Steve’s selfless generosity could have helped save the lives of more than 1,000 seriously ill patients."