Man who announced his own death on YouTube had simple final message for his followers

Earlier this week YouTuber Paul Harrell announced his own death to his subscribers and he had a simple message to sign off.

Paul Harrell died this week at the age of 58 after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer, announcing the new himself to his millions of subscribers.

Harrell was a gun safety, or as his commenters like to call him a 'gun wisdom' YouTuber who amassed 151 million views since joining the video streaming platform in 2012.

Posting a video simply titled 'I'm dead', Harrell addressed his audience directly saying: "If you're watching me, I'm dead."

The Oregon-based creator filmed the video back in December 2023 and it was released to the public on Tuesday (3 September 24).

While the much-loved Harrell had previously told his followers that they had caught the cancer early, in the video published earlier this week he expressed how his health had taken a turn.

Harrell said: “We did catch it early, but not as early as I had thought. It has spread faster than I thought it would. My time is drawing very short.”

Further saying: “I had hoped that I would continue in this format for the next 10 or even 15 years.

“Even once I was diagnosed I’d hoped that we’d be here for at least two or three more years and that’s turned out to be only a few more months.

“My apologies for that. It makes me feel like I’ve let everybody down.”

Paul thanked his subscribers in the video for all of their support over the years, and expressed his hope that his videos have helped 'save them some money' and helped them realise some things they didn't know before.

Harrell announced his death to millions of subscribers (YouTube/Paul Harrell)

Harrell ended the clip saying: "The final line, and I have not really rehearsed this, is I'm really glad to have had this opportunity to have done all the stuff we've done. I really hope that it's been helpful and I really appreciate you watching".

But it was his final statement that was so simple yet impactful. Harrell ends the clip with: "As always, don't try this at home and, thanks for watching."

Harrell's fans took to the comments to remember the creator with one writing: "Paul’s last lesson was a master class in dying with grace and dignity."

Another wrote: "'Post this video and call it I'm Dead...when I'm dead' is the most Paul Harrell thing to have ever Paul Harrelled. He will be missed."

Harrell and his brother Roy announced earlier this year that he will be continuing the channel on Paul's behalf after he's passed so fans can still look forward to content from the Paul Harrell channel.