Guinness crowns the world’s loudest person at 122.4 decibels

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Joseph McGrail-Bateup, an Australian professional air conditioner cleaner and honorary town crier, has been recognized as the world’s loudest person.

Guinness World Records last week acknowledged the 58-year-old Canberra resident recorded the loudest ever shout by an individual. He yelled “now” at 122.4 decibels.

That broke the previous record of 121.7 dB set by Northern Ireland schoolteacher Annalisa Flanagan in 1994. She had yelled an ear-piercing “quiet.”

That is in the noise range of a chain saw, a jet aircraft taking off and an ambulance siren at close range.

In this image taken from video, Joseph McGrail-Bateup demonstrates his loud voice in Canberra, Australia, Tuesday, June 23, 2026, after being recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s loudest person. (Australian Broadcasting Corp. via AP)

The record attempt was not something McGrail-Bateup could train for, he said Tuesday.

“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,” he said.

“It took me seven attempts just for one word, which........

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