Famed Hawaiian Surfer Tamayo Perry Dies in Shark Attack

A prominent member of Hawaii’s surf community is dead following a suspected shark attack.

On Sunday afternoon, Tamayo Perry, 49, died while surfing near Malaekahana Beach on the northeast coast of Oahu, officials with the Honolulu Emergency Services Department told the Associated Press. Authorities said Perry, who grew up and lived on the east side of the island, was taking a short break from his lifeguarding duties to surf when the attack took place. A bystander phoned lifesaving professionals at 1:00 P.M. to report that a man in the water had suffered multiple shark bites and was bleeding. Lifeguards brought Perry to the beach by Jetski where he was pronounced dead.

In a statement provided to the Los Angeles Times, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi called Perry a “well-known North Shore waterman.”

“He exemplified bravery, commitment and a deep sense of duty, serving our community with unwavering dedication,” Blangiardi wrote. “His heroic actions and tireless efforts to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors will never be forgotten.”

Perry rose to prominence as a professional surfer in the late nineties and early 2000s, when he was a standout on the North Shore’s famed Pipeline wave. He competed in the annual Pipeline Masters event, winning the qualification event prior to the 1999 edition, and finishing fourth in 2000. In 2002, Surfing Magazine called Perry “the most likely to get the barrel of the year.”

After retiring from the professional circuit, Perry had roles in several Hollywood films, most notably the 2002 hit Blue Crush, and the 2011 film Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. His IMDB page includes credits in the TV series Hawaii Five-0 and the short film The Bridge. Perry also taught surfing through his business Oahu Surfing Experience.

Following the incident, government officials in Hawaii held a press conference to announce the death and also to praise Perry.

“Tamayo Perry was a lifeguard loved by all. He was well-known on the North Shore,” Kurt Lager, acting chief of Honolulu Ocean Safety said. “Tamayo’s personality was infectious and as much as people loved him, he loved everyone else more. Our condolences go out to Tamayo’s family and to the entire lifeguard ohana.”

Blangiardi called the death “a tragic loss.”

“Tamayo was a legendary waterman and highly respected,” he said.

Following Perry’s death, officials posted shark warnings at Malaekahan Beach.

While rare, shark attacks and encounters do happen in the waters surrounding Hawaiian beaches. According to the state’s Hawaii Sharks incidents list, this is the fourth attack of 2024 to occur off Oahu. The most recent fatal attack occurred on December 30, 2023, when a surfer named Jason Carter was bitten off Paia Beach on the north shore of Maui.