Renowned surfer and occasional actor, Tamayo Perry, tragically passed away following a fatal shark attack off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii, as confirmed by authorities. Perry, 49, also served as a dedicated lifeguard for the City and County of Honolulu Ocean Safety.
The incident occurred while Perry was surfing near Goat Island on a Sunday afternoon. Emergency responders, including Honolulu Ocean Safety, city fire, police, and EMS departments, swiftly reacted to a distress call at Mālaekahana Beach on Oahu’s North Shore, reporting a surfer with severe shark bites. Despite efforts to bring him ashore and provide medical assistance, Perry succumbed to his injuries on site.
According to Shayne Enright of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department, Perry had been a valued member of the Ocean Safety team since July 2016. Following the tragic event, Ocean Safety personnel promptly issued shark warnings for the affected area.
Speaking at a press conference, Acting Chief Kurt Lager described Perry as beloved and highly respected, both locally and internationally, for his prowess as a surfer and his infectious personality. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi echoed these sentiments, labeling Perry a “legendary waterman” whose loss deeply impacted the community.
Tamayo Perry gained prominence in the early 2000s for his exceptional surfing skills, particularly at the North Shore pipeline, as reported by Surfer Magazine. His career extended beyond surfing into Hollywood, where he appeared in notable productions such as “Blue Crush” (2002) and “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” (2011), as well as an episode of “Hawaii Five-O” in 2011.
John Sullivan, who worked with Perry on “Hawaii Five-O,” remembered him fondly as “the nicest guy on Oahu,” emphasizing his positive influence on others.
The tragic incident underscores a broader trend highlighted by the International Shark Attack File, which reported a doubling of fatal shark attacks in 2023 compared to the previous year, with one of the incidents occurring in Hawaii.
Alongside his surfing career, Perry and his wife, Emilia, operated the Oahu Surfing Experience, imparting their extensive knowledge and passion for surfing to others. Emilia Perry, a former professional bodyboarder, described Tamayo as her mentor in ocean knowledge, recounting their meeting and subsequent life together in Hawaii.
Tamayo Perry’s enduring legacy extends beyond his achievements in surfing and acting; he was dedicated to promoting surf etiquette and safety, inspired by a near-fatal surfing accident earlier in his career.
In conclusion, Tamayo Perry’s untimely passing leaves a void in both the surfing community and the hearts of those who knew him, commemorating his life as a celebrated surfer, actor, and advocate for ocean safety and respect.
