Tamayo Perry, 49, a beloved surfer, lifeguard, and actor, tragically died on Sunday in a suspected shark attack off Oahu’s North Shore, Hawaii. Emergency services confirmed his body was found near Goat Island with multiple bite wounds. He was declared dead at the scene.
Perry was a respected member of Honolulu Ocean Safety for eight years and a well-known figure in the surfing world, especially for his expertise at Pipeline. He also appeared in films like Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Blue Crush.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi honored Perry as a dedicated lifeguard who “exemplified bravery, commitment, and a deep sense of duty.” Acting Chief Kurt Lager echoed those sentiments, calling him “a lifeguard loved by all.”
Perry’s wife, Emilia, also a surfer, shared that he “left this world doing what he loved, where he loved to do it.” The couple ran a surf school together on the North Shore.
Tributes have poured in from the global surf community. Surfer Kelly Slater wrote, “You truly lived the life you loved.”
Tamayo Perry’s legacy of courage, passion, and aloha spirit will live on in the hearts of those who knew and admired him.
