Tamayo Perry, a well-known lifeguard and surfer who made cameos on “Hawaii Five-O” and a “Pirates of the Caribbean” sequel, passed away on Sunday after being attacked by a shark while surfing, according to confirmation from Hawaiian authorities.
The 49-year-old native Hawaiian was attacked on Oahu’s north shore, where he had worked for eight years as an ocean safety officer and lifeguard, according to a statement from Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi.
“Today, in an apparent shark attack on the North Shore, one of our incredibly dedicated City and County of Honolulu lifeguards tragically lost his life,” Blangiardi said, “and we mourn his loss with profound sadness.” “We are praying for his family, friends, and Ocean Safety coworkers during this very trying time.” “Tamayo Perry, a well-known North Shore waterman and eight-year Ocean Safety veteran, embodied bravery, commitment, and a deep sense of duty, serving our community with unwavering dedication,” the speaker added. We shall always remember his bravery and his ceaseless efforts to make sure that all of our residents and guests are secure.
A shark attacked a surfer off Goat Island on June 23, just before 1 p.m. local time, causing “fatal injuries,” according to a statement from the Honolulu Emergency Services Department.
A caller told dispatch that the surfer appeared to have been bitten more than once. Officials said that when lifeguards brought his body ashore on a Jet Ski, EMS personnel pronounced him dead. According to confirmation from Ocean Safety, Perry was the surfer. At a press conference, Honolulu Ocean Safety Acting Chief Kurt Lager said, “Tamayo Perry was a lifeguard loved by all.”
In addition to being a well-known lifeguard and surfer, Perry was also well-known from his parts in the movies Blue Crush, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle. Additionally, he starred in the TV shows Lost and Hawaii: Five-O.
“Tragic though his passing may be, he left this world doing what he loved, where he loved to do it,” surfer Emilia Perry said of her husband. Perry was well-known for his prowess at Pipeline, one of the most famous surf breakers in the world, which is situated near Ehukai Beach Park in the northern part of Oahu, according to Surfer magazine.
He was raised on Oahu’s east side and was good friends with singer Jack Johnson, according to the Encyclopaedia of Surfing. On Oahu’s North Shore, Perry and his partner ran a surf school together. On Monday, condolences poured in from all throughout the surfing community.
Kelly Slater, a surfing legend, wrote, “This one is hard to believe.” “You genuinely led the life that you loved.” Moana Jones Wong, a different Hawaiian surfer who went by the nickname “Queen of the Pipeline,” posted a quote of herself on social media that read, “I will cherish our memories forever.”
