Harris was born in Geelong, Victoria, and attended Western Heights College where he was a champion sportsman and school captain.

In 1993, aged 18, he was involved in a traffic collision at Breamlea when the car in which Harris and several friends were travelling was struck by another vehicle.

Whilst undergoing physical therapy to enable him to walk again, Harris discovered that he could still swim very well.

[2] Harris was selected to represent Australia in swimming at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney.

[5] On 27 October 2009, days before the operation was scheduled, Harris took his own life by being struck by a train on a level crossing at Lara, Victoria.