The former Marine, National Guardsman, war veteran, and competitive shooter Paul Harrell passed away at the age of 58 after a prolonged battle with stage IV pancreatic cancer.
The firearm activist was in his Oregon residence when he passed away on Tuesday morning, surrounded by his family and close friends.
Moreover, in a YouTube video titled I’m Dead, Harrell detailed his life with the life-threatening disease as he said, “I’m recording it today. It is 20 December 2023, and I’m recording this and giving Brad instructions to publish it upon my demise.“
The video’s location was the same when he revealed his diagnosis, as the disease had spread in his body at an unexpected rate, forcing Harrell to use a crutch while walking.
Likewise, the cancer had spread to his bones, crumbling the parts near his hips. The joints fractured while Harrell fell suddenly at his home, which hindered his mobility until his final breath.
After discussing his diagnosis, Harrell thanked all his Patreon supporters and viewers for their support and asked them to continue supporting the channel if possible. His brother and crew also promised to continue creating content.
The creator also addressed the possibility of piracy of his video and urged viewers to watch content only through his official channel. He also reflected on his goal of providing valuable and exciting information about firearms.
Following an emotional message, Harrell apologized to all his fans for not being able to continue his work longer than he had initially hoped to do.
Tom Grieve got permission from the family to confirm that Paul Harrell had passed away after the video’s release!
Having over 1.13 million subscribers on YouTube, Harrell kept his family away from the limelight. He was married to Mary K. Kimball, with whom he shared two daughters, Alexandria and Jacquelyn.
Looking back at his early life, the creator completed his training at Ray Chapman Academy of Practical Shooting, Gunsite Academy, and The Navy’s CRF School.
Such education and training pushed Harrell to become a distinguished military personnel, with his combat marksmanship being highly valued. It also helped him establish a career in firearm instruction and knowledge.
Paul Harrel has passed away.ðŸ˜ðŸ’”
— meme bastard (@mask_bastard) September 4, 2024
Just saw this on discord and watched the video. Its real. pic.twitter.com/t87ZwWtr3G
Over the years, Harrell has discussed several topics, including the causes and prevention of mass shootings, which received thousands of views on his channel as viewers agreed with his opinion.
Similarly, the creator had access to various firearms and good handling skills. One of his viral videos, Concealed Carry Method, had over 500k views and 19k shares, which significantly helped him gain followers on the platform.
Following his diagnosis, Harrell pushed back the intensity of his firearm contents, still receiving the same appreciation and support from his fans.
After the shocking news of his demise, netizens flooded social sites like Twitter with RIP posts where one of the users wrote, “I’ve watched nearly all of his outdoor gun videos over the years, and they were the best videos on the topic. He will be greatly missed. May he rest in eternal peace.“
Additional Information
- Paul Harrell’s channel generated an estimated revenue of $800k, with annual earnings ranging between $1.9k to $30k, which fluctuated based on the number of sponsorships.
- The creator was in two self-defense attacks during his military service, during which he gathered knowledge on firearm tactics and techniques.
