Professional lifeguard Tamayo Perry, 49, tragically passed away after a shark attack while surfing off Oahu, Hawaii. The City and County of Honolulu Ocean Safety team responded to the incident at Mālaekahana Beach on Oahu’s North Shore.
Hawaii Lifeguard Dies in Shark Attack While Surfing Off Oahu
A professional lifeguard, Tamayo Perry, 49, died following a shark attack while surfing off Oahu, Hawaii, on Sunday afternoon. The incident occurred near Goat Island. The City and County of Honolulu Ocean Safety, along with fire, police, and emergency medical services, responded to a call at Mālaekahana Beach on Oahu’s North Shore just before 1 p.m. after a man was reported to have sustained shark bites.
Lifeguards retrieved Perry from the water using a jet ski, and paramedics confirmed his death onshore. Perry, a renowned surfer and lifeguard, began his career with the Ocean Safety department in July 2016. Following the attack, Ocean Safety personnel posted shark warnings in the area.
Honolulu Ocean Safety Acting Chief Kurt Lager described Perry as a beloved figure with an infectious personality, and Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi called Perry’s death “a tragic loss.”
