Tamayo Perry: Legendary surfer and Hawaii lifeguard dies in shark attack while surfing
A ‘legendary surfer’ and professional lifeguard has died after he was attacked by a shark while surfing off the island of Oahu in Hawaii.
Tamayo Perry, 49, died in the attack near Goat Island, Shayne Enright of the Honolulu emergency services department said.
Honolulu Ocean Safety and emergency services responded to Malaekahana Beach on Oahu’s North Shore on Sunday after a caller reported seeing a man who appeared to have suffered shark bites.
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Perry began his career as a lifeguard with the Ocean Safety department in 2016, Enright said.
Ocean Safety personnel posted shark warnings in the area following the attack.
Honolulu Ocean Safety acting chief Kurt Lager said Perry was “a lifeguard loved by all”.
“He’s well known on the North Shore. He’s a professional surfer known worldwide,” Lager said at a news conference.
“Tamayo’s personality was infectious and as much as people loved him, he loved everyone else more.”
Perry was known in the surfing world as a “legendary” pipeline surfer, according to Surf.com.
