Pirates of the Caribbean actor Tamayo Perry killed in shark attack while surfing in Hawaii
A renowned Pipeline surfer who appeared in a Pirates of the Caribbean film has been killed in a shark attack.
Tamayo Perry, 49, was attacked while he was riding the waves off Mālaekahana Beach on Oahu's North Shore in Hawaii.
Emergency services who rushed to the scene said Perry appeared to have suffered 'more than one shark bite'.
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He was dragged back to shore by lifeguards on a jet ski before paramedics sadly pronounced the actor dead at around 1pm on Sunday (23 June), Honolulu Emergency Medical Services said.
Tributes have started pouring in for the celebrated surfer, who had been taking part in the water sport since the age of 12 and was working as a local lifeguard and surfing coach.
Perry made a name for himself as a surfer who could tackle the infamous Pipeline wave which breaks at Ehukai beach in Oahu, routinely competed in the Pipeline Master Trials over the years and taking home the trophy in 1999.
His skills have caught the eye of TV and movie producers over the years too, seeing him make appearances in the likes of the 2002 flick Blue Crush, 2003's Charlie’s Angels 2 as well as several episodes of Hawaii Five-O.
But arguably Perry's most famous performance was in 2011's Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, which saw him work alongside famous faces including Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz and Ian McShane.
Alongside four others, he was selected from a pool of nearly 7,000 applications after a casting call in April 2010.
"I had to get pretty nasty to stand out," he said of his audition. "There were some herniated squints."
Perry was part of a small gang of people who the production crew referred to as 'core pirates', rather than extras.
Discussing his role with the Star Advertiser before the film's release, Perry said: "We are right there in your face.
"It is going to be in 3D, and you are going to get more of us than you want. We’re some bad-boy pirates."
He has also lent his talents to surf videos, appearing in The Bomb in 1998, Revelation in 2000, All Aboard in 2002 and Loaded Pipe in 2004.
Speaking of his love for surfing on the website for his coaching firm Oahu Surfing Experience, Perry explained that he had the pleasure of tackling some of the 'biggest, rawest wave conditions' ever during his career.
Discussing competing on the Teahupoo wave in the South Pacific, he said: "On a scale of 1 to 10 it was HUGE and the waves demanded 110% focus, commitment and respect.
"As a devoted waterman, I’ve gained a tremendous amount of knowledge, not only from what I’ve accomplished, but also from what I’ve suffered."
"A number of years ago while surfing Pipeline on the Extra Large size, I was involved in a freak accident that turned into a near-fatal experience," Perry continued.
"The incident happened all because of someone else's lack of awareness. The lessons I’ve taken from that event have inspired me to my goal of instilling proper surf etiquette and safety into those whom I teach."
Perry was described as 'a lifeguard loved by all' by acting chief of the Honolulu Ocean Safety group Kurt Lager.
Paying tribute to his late pal, he said at a news conference: "He's well known on the North Shore. He's a professional surfer known worldwide.
"Tamayo's personality was infectious and as much as people loved him, he loved everyone else more."
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi described Perry's death as 'a tragic loss', while adding: "Tamayo was a legendary waterman and highly respected."
Topics: Shark Attacks, Sharks, Animals, TV and Film, US News
Olivia Burke