The surfing community is mourning the loss of Tamayo Perry, a renowned lifeguard and surfer who tragically passed away on Sunday after being attacked by a shark while surfing on Oahu’s north shore.
Perry, 49, was a native Hawaiian who had dedicated eight years of his life to serving as a lifeguard and ocean safety officer on the same shores where he lost his life.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi expressed his condolences, praising Perry’s bravery and commitment to ensuring the safety of residents and visitors.
“Tamayo exemplified the true spirit of aloha, putting the needs of others before his own,” Blangiardi said. “His heroic actions will never be forgotten.”
The incident occurred near Goat Island, where Perry was surfing when he was attacked by a shark. Lifeguards quickly responded, retrieving his body on a Jet Ski, but unfortunately, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Colleagues and friends remembered Perry as a beloved figure in the surfing community. Acting Chief Kurt Lager of Honolulu Ocean Safety described him as “a lifeguard loved by all.”
Perry’s film credits include appearances in “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle,” “Blue Crush,” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” as well as TV shows “Hawaii Five-O” and “Lost.”
Fellow surfer and wife, Emilia Perry, found solace in the fact that her husband passed away doing what he loved. “Though his passing is tragic, he left this world in his happy place,” she said.
Tamayo Perry was known for his exceptional surfing skills, particularly at Pipeline, one of the world’s most iconic surf breaks. He operated a surf school on Oahu’s North Shore with his wife.
The surfing community poured out their hearts in tribute to Perry, with legendary surfer Kelly Slater writing, “You truly lived the life you loved.”
Moana Jones Wong, known as the “Queen of the Pipeline,” also shared her condolences, saying, “I will cherish our memories forever.”
Perry’s legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched and the memories he created in the surfing community.
