A well-known Hawaii lifeguard who was killed in a shark attack while surfing off Oahu害羞草研究所檚 North Shore was a former professional surfer with acting credits to his name, including a role in one of the 害羞草研究所淧irates of the Caribbean害羞草研究所� movies.
Tamayo Perry, 49, was killed Sunday near Goat Island, Shayne Enright of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department said in a statement.
It害羞草研究所檚 not known if Perry was the first professional surfer to be killed in a shark attack, since the definition of a professional in the sport can be blurry, said Brendan Buckley, the editor of Stab Magazine, a website devoted to surfing.
害羞草研究所淏ut in terms of a high-level surfer that people around the world know and respected, he害羞草研究所檚 the first that I害羞草研究所檓 aware of,害羞草研究所� Buckley told The Associated Press Monday from his office in Portugal.
Perry and his wife, Emilia Perry, operated the Oahu Surfing Experience, offering surfing lessons. According to his biography on the business害羞草研究所� website, he surfed professionally for over 15 years, highlighted by winning the Pipeline Master trials in 1999.
The Pipeline off Oahu害羞草研究所檚 North Shore is famous for creating a tube that surfers ride for as long as they can. But it害羞草研究所檚 also the most deadly wave in the world, killing some of the world害羞草研究所檚 best surfers, Buckley said. Surfing it became Perry害羞草研究所檚 specialty, he said.
Surfers either focus on competitions or what they can do outside of those meets.
Perry 害羞草研究所渨as never like somebody that was going to contend for a world title,害羞草研究所� Buckley said. 害羞草研究所淗e was more of the type to just kind of hunt down big, crazy waves and have that documented.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淔or a while, he was one of the top, top, top people out there,害羞草研究所� Buckley added. 害羞草研究所滺e got some of the craziest waves of his era. He was insanely respected by obviously everybody there and everybody around the world for what he did.害羞草研究所�
Perry said on his website that he took to heart lessons learned from a near-fatal accident while surfing the Pipeline years ago.
害羞草研究所淭he lessons I害羞草研究所檝e taken from that event have inspired me to my goal of instilling proper surf etiquette and safety into those whom I teach,害羞草研究所� he wrote.
Emilia competed as a professional bodyboarder in western Australia before moving to Hawaii when she was 18. She and Tamayo met when she was bodyboarding out to a Pipeline wave.
害羞草研究所淎 few years later, I picked up a surfboard, we got married and there was no turning back,害羞草研究所� she wrote. 害羞草研究所淭he vast amounts of ocean knowledge that Tamayo has ingrained in me over the years is priceless.害羞草研究所�
Tamayo Perry began his career as a lifeguard on the North Shore for the City and County of Honolulu Ocean Safety in July 2016, Enright said.
Perry害羞草研究所檚 other passion was acting. He had several small roles credited to him on the film website including playing a buccaneer in 害羞草研究所淧irates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides害羞草研究所� in 2011. That same year, he appeared in an episode of the television series 害羞草研究所淗awaii Five-0.害羞草研究所� He was also in a couple of national commercials.
害羞草研究所淲hen I害羞草研究所檓 not acting, I害羞草研究所檓 still quite a character, so there害羞草研究所檚 always a ton of fun to be had,害羞草研究所� he said.
Photographer Brian Bielmann had known and worked with Perry for 25 years, shooting the surfer in both Hawaii and Tahiti. Perry and several friends wound up at a party about five months ago, when Bielmann said they had an incredible bonding experience.
害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 about five of us there, and we害羞草研究所檝e all called each other and just said, 害羞草研究所榃e just are so thankful that we had that night with him,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 he said. 害羞草研究所淓verybody is just shaken to the core. I mean, it害羞草研究所檚 a gnarly thing to have happen no matter who it is, but to find out it was Tamayo, it害羞草研究所檚 crazy, man.害羞草研究所�
Honolulu Ocean Safety and the city害羞草研究所檚 fire, police and emergency medical services departments responded to Malaekahana Beach on Oahu害羞草研究所檚 North Shore just before 1 p.m. Sunday after a caller reported seeing a man who appeared to have suffered shark bites, Enright said.
Lifeguards brought Perry to shore, where he was pronounced dead, Enright said.
Ocean Safety personnel posted shark warnings in the area following the attack, Enright said.
Honolulu Ocean Safety Acting Chief Kurt Lager said Perry was 害羞草研究所渁 lifeguard loved by all.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淭amayo害羞草研究所檚 personality was infectious and as much as people loved him, he loved everyone else more,害羞草研究所� Lager said at a news conference.
害羞草研究所淭amayo was a legendary waterman and highly respected,害羞草研究所� Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said, calling Perry害羞草研究所檚 death 害羞草研究所渁 tragic loss.害羞草研究所�
The was Dec. 30 when a man surfing off Maui was attacked about 150 yards (137 meters) from shore.
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