Canberra Town Crier Sets Record as World's Loudest Human
WHO:
CNN - Joseph McGrail-Bateup, a 58-year-old Australian professional air conditioner cleaner and honorary town crier.
ABC News World - McGrail-Bateup is recognized as the world’s loudest person.
WHAT:
CNN - McGrail-Bateup's shout was recorded at a level comparable to a chainsaw, a jet aircraft taking off, and an ambulance siren at close range.
CNN - McGrail-Bateup stated, “There’s no way that you can actually practice for it. You have to just keep it for the day, especially with the world record attempt.”
CNN - McGrail-Bateup expressed, “If someone beats me, that’s fantastic. Records are meant to be broken.”
CNN - McGrail-Bateup recorded a shout at 122.4 decibels, breaking the previous record of 121.7 dB.
CNN - The previous record was set by Annalisa Flanagan in 1994, who yelled “quiet.”
CNN - McGrail-Bateup attempted the record seven times before successfully shouting “now.”
CNN - He won a 2024 guild competition with a loudness of 98 dB for the phrase “Oyez, Oyez, Oyez.”
CNN - McGrail-Bateup has previously broken a speed record for an archer shooting 10 arrows in 60.03 seconds.
WHERE:
CNN - The record shout was recorded in a radio studio in Canberra, Australia.
WHEN:
CNN - The record attempt was recorded on May 2.
CNN - McGrail-Bateup broke the archery record in 2019.
WHY:
CNN - McGrail-Bateup considers his role as town crier “a bit of fun.”
CNN - McGrail-Bateup became competitively loud after being appointed the official town crier of Canberra in 2017.
CNN - He searched for Guinness World Records to find feats related to town crying.
HOW:
CNN - The record attempt required seven attempts before he successfully shouted “now.”
CNN - The shout was recorded by a professional acoustic engineer with witnesses present.
CNN - McGrail-Bateup experimented with several words before choosing “now” for his record attempt.
(UPDATED June 24, 2026 11:54 UTC)
In a remarkable display of vocal power, McGrail-Bateup's shout was recorded at a level comparable to a chainsaw or a jet aircraft taking off. He acknowledged the unique challenge of his world record attempt, stating, “There’s no way that you can actually practice for it,” while also expressing his enthusiasm for the competition by saying, “If someone beats me, that’s fantastic. Records are meant to be broken.” The attempt took seven tries before he successfully shouted “now,” showcasing both his determination and the fun he finds in his role as town crier.
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(UPDATED June 24, 2026 04:26 UTC)
Joseph McGrail-Bateup, a 58-year-old Australian professional air conditioner cleaner and honorary town crier, has officially been recognized as the world’s loudest person after recording a shout at an impressive 122.4 decibels, surpassing the previous record of 121.7 dB set by Annalisa Flanagan in 1994. The record-breaking shout took place in a radio studio in Canberra, Australia, where McGrail-Bateup attempted the feat seven times before successfully yelling “now,” with the attempt overseen by a professional acoustic engineer and witnesses. Notably, he previously won a guild competition in 2024 with a loudness of 98 dB for the phrase “Oyez, Oyez, Oyez,” and has also broken a speed record for shooting ten arrows in just 60.03 seconds.