Surfer and actor Tamayo Perry, perhaps best known for his role in Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, has died. Honolulu Emergency Services Department confirmed that Perry was attacked by a shark while surfing on Sunday afternoon, suffering fatal injuries, per CNN. He was 49 years old.
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Perry was an “eight-year veteran of Honolulu Ocean Safety and well-known North Shore waterman,” Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said in a statement. As a lifeguard, he “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,” Blangiardi said.
Perry gained acclaim as a surfer and earned small acting roles in various productions, including Blue Crush, Pirates Of The Caribbean, Lost, and Hawaii Five-0. In addition to being a lifeguard since 2016, he was also a surfing instructor. “As a devoted waterman, I’ve gained a tremendous amount of knowledge, not only from what I’ve accomplished, but also from what I’ve suffered,” he wrote in his bio for his company, the Oahu Surfing Experience.
According to the Associated Press, the attack occurred near Goat Island. An onlooker placed an emergency call after seeing a man who appeared to have suffered shark bites, Shayne Enright of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department said at a press conference. Honolulu Ocean Safety and the city’s fire, police and emergency medical services departments responded to the call at Mālaekahana Beach on Oahu’s North Shore. Lifeguards brought Perry to shore via jet ski; paramedics at the scene assisted in pronouncing him dead.
At the conference, Honolulu Ocean Safety Acting Chief Kurt Lager said Perry was “a lifeguard loved by all” (per the AP). “He’s well known on the North Shore. He’s a professional surfer known worldwide,” Lager said. “Tamayo’s personality was infectious and as much as people loved him, he loved everyone else more.”