Actor and lifeguard Tamayo Perry from “Pirates of the Caribbean” passed away at the age of 49, reportedly due to an apparent shark attack.
Authorities informed CNN and The Associated Press that the attack happened on Sunday afternoon off the Hawaiian island of Oahu.
A report of a guy in the water who seemed to be badly injured by a shark attack prompted the Honolulu Ocean Safety Department and other responders to travel to the North Shore of Oahu to locate Perry, an ocean safety lifeguard. Authorities told the outlets that he was declared dead at the spot by emergency personnel.
Honolulu Emergency Services and Honolulu Ocean Safety have been contacted by USA TODAY for comments.
The Associated Press was informed by Honolulu Ocean Safety Acting Chief Kurt Lager that Perry was “a lifeguard loved by all.”
At a press conference, Lager declared, “He’s a professional surfer known worldwide,” according to the publication. “Tamayo’s personality was infectious and as much as people loved him, he loved everyone else more.”
Perry “served our community with unwavering dedication, exemplifying bravery, commitment, and a deep sense of duty.” Hawaii Mayor Rick Blangiardi told CNN in a statement that “his heroic actions and tireless efforts to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors will never be forgotten.”
In “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” (2011), Perry played a buccaneer; in a “Hawaii Five-0” episode, he played Spike. In addition, he performed stunt work for the 2004 Owen Wilson and Morgan Freeman movie “The Big Bounce” and acted as Tamayo in the 2002 movie “Blue Crush.”
Shark attacks are thought to be uncommon. According to the Florida Museum, a state natural history museum, there is a 1 in 11.5 million chance of being attacked by a shark.
In the US, how frequent are shark attacks? Examine the most recent data in detail.
Thirty-six of the 69 unprovoked shark bites that occurred on humans in 2023 were in the United States. Of the 36, two were deadly; one occurred in Hawaii and the other in California. Similar to past years, Florida recorded the highest number of shark attacks—16—according to The International Shark Attack File study from the Florida Museum.
