A talented surfer and part-time actor passed away after being badly hurt in a shark attack near Oahu, Hawaii, officials reported. Tamayo Perry, 49, was also a lifeguard for the City and County of Honolulu Ocean Safety team.
Perry was attacked while surfing near Goat Island on a Sunday afternoon. Shayne Enright from the Honolulu Emergency Services Department shared details at a news conference broadcast by Hawaii News Now.
Emergency teams rushed to Mālaekahana Beach on Oahu’s North Shore after someone saw Perry with shark bites and severe injuries. Lifeguards brought him to shore on a jet ski, where paramedics confirmed his passing.
Perry, who worked as a lifeguard on the North Shore, started his job with the Ocean Safety team in 2016.
Following the attack, warnings about sharks were issued for the area by Ocean Safety personnel.
Acting Chief Kurt Lager described Perry as beloved by all, known for his infectious personality and worldwide surfing skills.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi praised Perry as a legendary waterman and expressed sadness over the loss.
Perry gained fame in the early 2000s for his exceptional surfing, especially at the North Shore pipeline. He also appeared in movies like “Blue Crush” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” as well as in a TV show episode.
His colleague John Sullivan described him as the friendliest person on Oahu, always spreading positivity wherever he went.
According to the International Shark Attack File, deadly shark attacks doubled in 2023 compared to the previous year, with one of the fatal incidents occurring in Hawaii.
Perry and his wife, Emilia, ran the Oahu Surfing Experience, offering surfing lessons. Perry, a professional surfer for over 15 years, won the Pipeline Master trials in 1999.
Despite the dangers, Perry specialized in riding the challenging Pipeline wave, earning immense respect for his skills and bravery.
Brendan Buckley, editor of Stab Magazine, noted Perry’s reputation for chasing big waves and his immense respect in the surfing community.
Perry shared that a near-fatal surfing accident inspired him to prioritize surf safety in his teachings.
Emilia, a former professional bodyboarder, met Tamayo while surfing at Pipeline, and they later married, sharing a deep love for the ocean.