A well-known surfer and lifeguard was killed in a shark attack near the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, on Sunday, emergency officials said.
Tamayo Perry, 49, was attacked in the water off Goat Island midday on Sunday, the Honolulu Emergency Services Department said in a statement.
Perry had been since 2016 a lifeguard with Honolulu Ocean Safety. He had also been a local surf coach and had competed in the Pipeline Master Trials for years, according to his official bio on his coaching site.
Perry had appeared in the 2002 movie “Blue Crush,” along with episodes of “Hawaii Five-O” and “The Bridge,” according to IMDB.
A sign posted at a beach in Oahu warns of a shark in the area, on the Hawaiian island’s north short on June 23, 2024, in a photo supplied by the Honolulu Emergency Services Department.
Honolulu Emergency Services Department
Perry was a “well-known North Shore waterman,” who “exemplified bravery, commitment and a deep sense of duty,” Mayor Rick Blangiardi said in a statement.
“His heroic actions and tireless efforts to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors will never be forgotten,” the mayor said.
Goat Island sits off Mālaekahana beach on the the northeastern coast of Oahu.
The first emergency call came in at about 1 p.m. on Sunday, officials said. Perry’s body was brought on shore via a jet ski.
“A caller told dispatchers the man’s body appeared to have suffered more than one shark bite,” EMS officials said in a statement.