Tamayo Perry, a well-respected professional surfer, actor, and lifeguard, died on Sunday, June 23, from wounds sustained from a shark attack.
The 49-year-old Perry was attacked while paddling to Goat Island, just offshore of Malaekahana Beach in Eastern Oahu, Hawaii. Paramedics pronounced him dead as soon as he was brought to shore by jet ski around 1:00 PM Hawaiian time.
A Legend
Perry was beloved in Oahu and beyond as a free surfer and lifeguard. He was a consistent standout at Pipeline and other waves of consequence on the island.
He taught surfing to beginners for the company Oahu Surfing Experience. The company set up a donation on its homepage in his honor.
Tamayo Perry was also known for his work as an actor. The surfer appeared in 2011’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle.
Shark Attacks in Hawaii
Hawaii has, on average, three to four shark attacks every year. Most attacks are non-fatal. The last fatal attack happened in 2023 when surfer Jason Carter was killed off the coast of Maui.
Hawaii has several species of potentially aggressive shark species, including tiger, bull, and great whites.
The species that killed Perry remains undetermined. The most common shark species to attack humans off Hawaiian waters is the tiger shark.
The east side of Oahu is not particularly known for shark encounters. However, Goat Island, the spot where Perry was killed, is located near a deep channel where tiger sharks are known to hunt.