KAHUKU, Hawaii —A well-known Hawaii lifeguard who was killed in a shark attack while surfing off Oahu’s North Shore was a former professional surfer with acting credits to his name, including a role in one of the “Pirates of the Caribbean" movies.
City and County of Honolulu Ocean Safety lifeguard Tamayo Perry, 49, died in the attack near Goat Island, Shayne Enright of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department said in a statement.
What You Need To Know
- City and County of Honolulu Ocean Safety lifeguard Tamayo Perry, 49, died after he was attacked by a shark while surfing near Goat Island
- Perry, who worked as a lifeguard on the North Shore, began his career with the Ocean Safety department in July 2016
- Ocean Safety personnel posted shark warnings in the area following the attack
- Honolulu Ocean Safety Acting Chief Kurt Lager said Perry was “a lifeguard loved by all”
Honolulu Ocean Safety and the city's fire, police and emergency medical services departments responded to Mālaekahana Beach on Oahu's North Shore just before 1 p.m. after a caller reported seeing a man who appeared to have suffered shark bites, Enright said.
Lifeguards brought Perry to shore by jet ski and paramedics assisted with the death pronouncement, Enright said.
Perry, who worked as a lifeguard on the North Shore, began his career with the Ocean Safety department in July 2016, Enright said.
It's not known if Perry was the first professional surfer to be killed in a shark attack, since the definition of a professional in the sport can be blurry, said Brendan Buckley, the editor of Stab Magazine, a website devoted to surfing.
“But in terms of a high-level surfer that people around the world know and respected, he's the first that I'm aware of,” Buckley told The Associated Press Monday from his office in Portugal.
Perry and his wife, Emilia Perry, operated the Oahu Surfing Experience, offering surfing lessons. According to his biography on the business' website, he surfed professionally for over 15 years, highlighted by winning the Pipeline Master trials in 1999.
In this undated image released by Christa Funk, shows well-known Hawaii lifeguard Tamayo Perry and his wife Emilia posing for photograph with surf boards. Perry was killed in a shark attack, Sunday, June 23, 2024, off Ohau, Hawaii. (Christa Funk via AP)
The Pipeline off Oahu's North Shore is famous for creating a tube that surfers ride for as long as they can. But it's also the most deadly wave in the world, killing some of the world's best surfers, Buckley said. Surfing it became Perry’s specialty, he said.
Surfers either focus on competitions or what they can do outside of those meets.
Perry “was never like somebody that was going to contend for a world title,” Buckley said. "He was more of the type to just kind of hunt down big, crazy waves and have that documented.”
“For a while, he was one of the top, top, top people out there," Buckley added. ”He got some of the craziest waves of his era. He was insanely respected by obviously everybody there and everybody around the world for what he did.”
Perry said on his website that he took to heart lessons learned from a near-fatal accident while surfing the Pipeline years ago.
“The lessons I’ve taken from that event have inspired me to my goal of instilling proper surf etiquette and safety into those whom I teach,” he wrote.
Emilia competed as a professional bodyboarder in western Australia before moving to Hawaii when she was 18. She and Tamayo met when she was bodyboarding out to a Pipeline wave.
“A few years later, I picked up a surfboard, we got married and there was no turning back,” she wrote. “The vast amounts of ocean knowledge that Tamayo has ingrained in me over the years is priceless.”
Tamayo Perry began his career as a lifeguard on the North Shore for the City and County of Honolulu Ocean Safety in July 2016, Enright said.
Perry's other passion was acting. He had several small roles credited to him on the film websiteimdb.com,including playing a buccaneer in “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” in 2011. That same year, he appeared in an episode of the television series “Hawaii Five-0.” He was also in a couple of national commercials.
"When I’m not acting, I’m still quite a character, so there’s always a ton of fun to be had," he said.
Ocean Safety personnel posted shark warnings in the area following the attack, Enright said.
Honolulu Ocean Safety Acting Chief Kurt Lager said Perry was “a lifeguard loved by all.”
“He's well known on the North Shore. He's a professional surfer known worldwide,” Lager said at a news conference. “Tamayo's personality was infectious and as much as people loved him, he loved everyone else more.”
“It is with profound sadness that we mourn the loss of one of our incredibly dedicated City and County of Honolulu lifeguards, who tragically lost his life today in an apparent shark attack on the North Shore. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and colleagues in Ocean Safety during this incredibly difficult time," read a statement released by Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi.
“Tamayo Perry, an eight-year veteran of Ocean Safety and well-known North Shore waterman, 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 will never be forgotten.
“As we grieve this unimaginable loss, we are reminded of the inherent risks faced by our lifeguards daily, and we extend our deepest gratitude for their service. The City and County of Honolulu stands with our Ocean Safety community and will provide all necessary support during this period of mourning.
“We ask the community to join us in honoring his memory and to keep his loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.”
Thelast fatal shark incident in Hawaiiwas Dec. 30 when a man surfing off Maui was attacked about 150 yards from shore.
Editor's note: This story was updated to include details about Perry's acting credits, facts about Hawaii's last fatal shark incident and new photos (June 24, 2024).
