(RepublicanDaily.org) – An apparent shark attack has claimed the life of pro surfer and actor Tamayo Perry. He was 49 years old.
The attack occurred in Oahu, Hawaii, in the island’s North Shore area. Perry was surfing in an area known as Goat Island or Mālaekahana Beach lake, which is located on Oahu’s northeastern coast. A concerned citizen made an emergency call, saying that a man on the water appeared to have suffered several shark bites. The Ocean Safety service for Honolulu, as well as the fire, police, and emergency medical services responded to the call. Perry was brought to shore by first responders through a jet ski, but paramedics pronounced the surfer dead shortly after.
Perry rose to fame during the height of his pro surfing career, which was during the late nineties to the early 2000s. He specialized in riding the North Shore’s Pipeline wave, which allowed him to bag him a number of surfing awards. He has also appeared in a number of Hollywood productions, such as “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” and the surfing film “Blue Crush”. He also appeared in the Hawaii-based crime procedural TV series “Hawaii Five-o.”
In response to the incident, Ocean Safety has put up shark warnings in the area in an effort to prevent more incidents. Perry was also part of Ocean Safety, serving as one of its lifeguards since 2016. Honolulu Ocean Safety acting chief Kurt Lager called the surfer “one of our own.”
Tributes for the surfer poured in from the community, where he was well-loved and respected. Rick Blangiardi, the mayor of Honolulu, acknowledged Perry’s incredible skills as a waterman and public servant.
“His [Perry’s] heroic actions and tireless efforts to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors will never be forgotten,” Blangiardi said in a statement sent to media outlets.
The World Surf League called Perry a “beloved icon” and said that the organization was “deeply saddened” by his loss.
Perry is survived by his wife, Emilia, who is also a professional surfer. The husband and wife team were the founders of Oahu Surfing Experience, which offers surfing lessons on the North Shore.
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