Tamayo Perry, a legendary surfer and lifeguard in his native Hawaii, was killed Sunday in an apparent shark attack just east of Oahus North Shore. A 49-year-old native of that area, Perry earned far-flung recognition not just for his ability to ride huge waves but also for having portrayed characters in several films and TV
Tamayo Perry, a legendary surfer and lifeguard in his native Hawaii, was killed Sunday in an apparent shark attack just east of Oahu’s North Shore.
A 49-year-old native of that area, Perry earned far-flung recognition not just for his ability to ride huge waves but also for having portrayed characters in several films and TV shows, including “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” and “Hawaii Five-0.”
“Tragic though his passing may be,” read a message posted Monday on the Instagram account of a surfing instruction business Perry ran with his wife, “he left this world doing what he loved where he loved to do it.”
Professional surfer, longtime lifeguard, and legendary waterman, Tamayo Perry, was tragically killed by a shark attack in Hawaii on Sunday. Tamayo was loved by all and will be greatly missed. A Hui Hou. pic.twitter.com/jO1sVmY5Cs
— Wet Tribe (@WetTribe) June 24, 2024
At a news conference Sunday at Oahu’s Malaekahana Beach, a spokeswoman for the Honolulu Emergency Services Department said first responders received a 911 call just before 1 p.m. regarding a surfer fatally injured in a shark attack. Perry was brought ashore by rescuers via Jet Ski, spokeswoman Shayne Enright told reporters, before being declared formally dead. Enright said her agency had no further information to share at that point, and she said she and other officials would not be taking questions at the news conference.
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Calling Perry a “legendary waterman and highly respected,” Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said at the news conference, “You get a call like this on a Sunday afternoon, it’s just really hard to imagine.”
On Monday, Blangiardi used a Facebook post to hail Perry, a Honolulu city and county lifeguard, as having “exemplified bravery, commitment and a deep sense of duty, serving our community with unwavering dedication.”
“His heroic actions and tireless efforts to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors,” Blangiardi wrote, “will never be forgotten.”
Perry grew up near and became a familiar figure at the North Shore’s famous Pipeline surfing spot, where barreling waves test the mettle of even the elite. He won the Pipeline Masters trials in 1999, per Surfline, and was frequently spotted taking on the massive swells at Teahupo’o in Tahiti.
Tamayo Perry, known for his work in the ‘PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN’ franchise, has sadly passed away from a shark attack at the age of 49. pic.twitter.com/ra1G5SIERx
— One Take 🎬 (@OneTakeNews) June 24, 2024
In a self-penned bio posted on the website of his surfing instruction business, Perry wrote, “I’ve been surfing professionally for over 15 years and surfing the world’s deadliest wave is what I got paid for (Pipeline).”
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He added that among his on-screen work were roles in national advertising campaigns as well as in the surfing-oriented film “Blue Crush.”
While encounters with sharks are hardly unheard of in Hawaii, deaths stemming from incidents involving water sports are rare. According to a list maintained by the state government, Perry’s death was the first this year among participants in surfing and other activities such as swimming, paddleboarding and scuba diving. The previous such fatality occurred Dec. 30 and involved a surfer on the north shore of the island of Maui, per Hawaii’s government. Before that, there was one shark-related episode in 2022 that took the life of a snorkeler elsewhere in Maui. There were seven listed incidents in 2021 of people suffering wounds in encounters with sharks but no deaths that year.
In December 2020, a shark attack that killed a surfer caused the postponement of a World Surf League event in Maui. On Monday, the WSL said of Perry that it was “deeply saddened to share that the surf community lost a beloved icon.”
“Tamayo was a Pipeline/Teahupo’o specialist, freesurfer, former competitor, and member of the WSL for many years,” professional surfing’s governing body said. “He became a lifeguard for the city and was a big part of the North Shore community. Our hearts go out to Tamayo’s family and friends.”
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