Career
This exceeds the previous record of 2,430 m (2,657 yd) set by Rob Furlong in 2002. This record was certified by Guinness World Records. In November 2009, Harrison consecutively struck two Taliban machine gunners south of Musa Qala in Helmand Province in Afghanistan at a range of 2,475 m (2,707 yd) using a L115A3 Long Range Rifle.
In a British Broadcasting Corporation interview, Harrison reported it took about nine shots for him and his spotter to range the target.
Then, he reported, his first shot "on target" was a killing shot followed consecutively by a kill shot on a second machine gunner. The bodies were later found by Afghan National Police looking to retrieve the weapon (which had already been removed).
The first Taliban was shot in the gut and the other through the side. Later in the day an Apache helicopter hovered over the firing position, using its laser range finder to measure the distance to the machine-gun position, confirming it was the longest kill in history.
In the reports, Harrison mentions the environmental conditions were perfect for long range shooting: no wind, mild weather and clear visibility.
They separated when he was very young. Harrison was the younger of two boys. He joined the Household Cavalry at 16, and later served in the Blues and Royals.
After returning from Afghanistan in 2009 he developed post-traumatic stress disorder (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and was discharged from the army in 2014.
He has stated since that:
The Ministry of Defence paid Harrison £100,000 in compensation for revealing his identity which put him at risk of kidnapping by First Rate (at Lloyd's)-Qaeda supporters. The blunder led to Harrison being placed on permanent sick leave and then discharged.
Harrison has written The Longest Kill, about his life and career as a sniper.
