The surfing community is in mourning after the death of Tamayo Perry. The 49-year-old lifeguard and surfing legend left in the worst possible way: he suffered a very serious shark attack while catching waves in Oahu, Hawaii, last Saturday, June 22.
It all happened near Goat Islet. An emergency call alerted crews shortly before 1pm, saying there was a man who appeared to have been bitten by a shark at Mālaekahana Beach on the north coast.
They didn’t take long to arrive: firefighters, police and medical services were there within a few minutes. Although lifeguards managed to get him out of the water with a jet ski, it was too late for Tamayo.
Tamayo was very loved
Shayne Enright of Honolulu Emergency Services confirmed the news and said that after the incident, shark alerts have been put in place in that area to discourage other surfers from approaching the area.
Much loved by Hawaiians
Kurt Lager, the acting chief of Honolulu Ocean Safety, was full of praise for Perry during a press conference. He said he was “a lifeguard loved by all,” known in Hawaii both on and off the beaches. “Tamayo’s personality was contagious and, as much as people loved him, he loved others more,” Lager concluded.
Since he was little, Perry showed that waves were his thing. He started surfing when he was 12 years old and made a name for himself because of his great style of mastering the board. Although he only competed occasionally, he made a big impression at events like the Pipeline Masters trials and the Billabong Pro at Teahupoo. In addition, he also made his first steps as an actor, with supporting roles in Pirates of the Caribbean and series like Hawaii Five-0.
