OAHU, Hawaii – The surfing and acting world mourn the loss of renowned surfer and actor Tamayo Perry, who tragically lost his life in a shark attack off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii. Perry, known for his role in the fourth installment of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series, was attacked near Goat Island on Sunday. At the age of 49, Perry was discovered by local surfers off Mālaekahana Beach on Oahu’s North Shore, missing an arm and a leg.
According to Honolulu’s emergency services, a witness reported the distressing event after seeing a man suffering from injuries caused by a shark. Perry was enjoying a surfing break from his lifeguard duties when the incident occurred just before 1 p.m. local time. Emergency services managed to bring Perry to shore on Malaekahana Beach, where paramedics attempted to revive him.
However, Perry, who worked as an ocean safety lifeguard and surfing instructor, was declared dead shortly after. Following the fatal attack, ocean safety personnel issued shark warnings in the surrounding area.
Kurt Lager, acting Honolulu ocean safety chief, spoke highly of Perry, stating, “He’s well known on the North Shore. He’s a professional surfer known worldwide.” Lager also described Perry’s infectious personality and emphasized how much he was loved by everyone. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi also paid tribute to Perry, calling his death “a tragic loss.”
Perry, a Hawaii native, began his career with the ocean safety department in 2016. Before that, he had roles in several blockbuster films, including “Blue Crush,” “Lost,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” and “Hawaii Five-0.” Born in 1975, Perry started surfing at age 12 and quickly made a name for himself as a promising local surfer. In 1999, he won the Pipeline Masters Trials, an annual surfing competition in Oahu.
This marks the second fatal shark attack in Oahu this month. Tamayo Perry is survived by his wife, Emilia.