Popular YouTube firearms expert Paul Harrell announced in a posthumous video that he has died at the age of 58 from pancreatic cancer.
The late U.S. Army and Marine Corps veteran, known for his gun reviews, firearms instructional videos and advocacy for the Second Amendment, shared the heartbreaking update in a final message to fans uploaded to his YouTube channel on Tuesday by his manager Brad Nelson.
The six-minute footage, which Harrell said was filmed on Dec. 20, 2023, shows Harrell sitting on a log in the woods with crutches at his side.
“If you’re looking at me, I’m dead,” Harrell begins in the video, titled “I’m Dead.”
YouTube gun expert Paul Harrell announced his death in a video. (Paul Harrell YouTube)
He continued, “A few months ago I was sitting on this log telling you all that I’d been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I also said that because it was caught early, I’d probably be here for a while. It was caught early, but not as early as I thought it would be.”
Harrell said fans had previously seen him on crutches in videos and explained that he recently broke his hip.
“Well, I broke my hip, but it wasn’t because I was in an accident, it was because the cancer spread to my bone,” Harrell said. “My bone gave way, my hip broke, and I fell.”
“My time is running short,” he added.
Harrell thanked his fans for supporting him through Patreon and asked them to keep doing so for a while as he hopes his brother and other crew members will take over from him and create content for the channel.
“My goal in doing all this was, of course, to have fun, to have fun, but above all to provide useful information,” he explained. “If not useful, then at least interesting information.”
“And what I really hope is that people will watch my show and go, ‘Oh, I get it, I get it,’ and that they’ll find something that they can change and that will work for them,” he continued. “I really hope that the reviews that we’ve done will save people money and maybe prevent them from buying something that’s not right for them. And if that happens, then we’ve achieved our goal.”
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“I’m truly sorry,” Harrell told fans. “I had hoped I’d be able to continue this way for the next 10, maybe 15 years, and when I got diagnosed I thought I’d have a couple more years, and it only ended up being a few more months. I’m truly sorry. I really feel like I let everybody down.”
“I guess the last line is, even though we didn’t practice it much, I’m just so happy we got to do everything we did,” he added, overcome with emotion. “I hope this was helpful and thank you so much for watching and commenting and participating. I don’t think I have many regrets about what we did here.”
“I think we’ve been successful, for the most part, and I hope you all agree. So as always, please don’t try to do this at home, and thank you for watching.”
Harrell died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 58. (Paul Harrell YouTube)
As Harrell finished his message, the video switched to his brother, Roy E. Harrell Jr., who confirmed the content creator’s passing and said he was “heartbroken.”
“It was his wish to carry on his legacy through this channel,” Roy said. “He will continue to be an inspiration to all of us.”
Nelson then appeared on the video and introduced himself to Harrell’s viewers who might not know him, saying he’d worked behind the scenes with Harrell, a gun expert, since the channel was “very small.”
“It was a great privilege for me to have Paul in my life and to have him as a friend,” Nelson said. “He was a very generous and kind person and had the best campfire stories. He had a positive impact on so many people’s lives, including mine, and I’m so grateful for that.”
“We plan to eventually continue his legacy by uploading videos to this channel and continuing to educate people like Paul did,” he said, “but you can also continue his legacy by sharing your knowledge with others and sharing your passion for firearms in the outdoors.”
“And just being curious like Paul was and making an effort to learn new things.”
The content creator was known for his gun reviews, firearms instructional videos, and Second Amendment advocacy work. (Paul Harrell YouTube)
After the video was posted, Harrell’s fans took to the comments section to thank him for educating viewers about gun safety and using his platform to advocate for gun owners’ rights.
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“A giant among giants,” one fan wrote. “Paul is not just a gun enthusiast or educator. He is a gun educator. Your contributions will be remembered by many for many years. Your teachings will live on.”
“Paul you were the original YouTube gunslinger and we will miss you dearly,” another user added. “Thank you for all your great content!”
“Paul was the Mister Rogers of the firearms world,” one commenter wrote. “May he rest in peace.”
Fans mourned his death and praised his bravery in the video’s comments section. (Paul Harrell YouTube)
Other viewers marveled at the calmness with which Harrell announced his death in the video.
“I have never seen anyone respond so calmly and professionally to their own death in months. Rest in peace Paul,” one fan commented.
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“Paul’s final lesson was a master class in how to die with grace and dignity,” another viewer noted.
“A true example of masculinity,” one fan wrote. “Not an alpha tough guy who overcompensates and hides his insecurities. Calm, experienced, intelligent, self-aware, measured, respectful, and courageous.”
