Tamayo Perry (April 15, 1975 – June 23, 2024) was an American professional surfer, lifeguard and actor.[1][2] He was a regular fixture on Oahu's Banzai Pipeline,[3][4][5] one of the world's most notable reef surf breaks, and was considered as one of the most prominent pipeline specialists of all time.[6] His death was the first fatal shark attack on Oahu in over 20 years.[7]
Biography
Tamayo Perry was born in Hau'ula, on the island of Oahu, Hawaii in 1975. He grew up around the corner from the North Shore's famous and deadly Banzai Pipeline, where he would become a regular presence[8][9] and would go on to ride some of his most prominent waves.[10][11]
Perry began surfing at the age of 12, and by 17 had travelled to California to take part in surfing competitions.[12] He would go on to spend 15 years as a professional surfer.[13]
In 1999, he won the Pipeline Master trials, coming in fourth the next year.[14] He also travelled regularly to Tahiti to surf, where he competed in several installments of the Billabong Pro Teahupo'o competition,[15][16] and filmed some of his most notable sports films, including Islands in the Stream.[17]
Oahu's Banzai Pipeline Masters event, where Perry competed
Outside of competition, he was known for free-surfing and mastery of pipeline surfing, where he frequently appeared in surfing magazines and surf films.[10]
In 2005, he suffered a near-fatal head injury at the Pipeline, when he was hit by another surfer's errant surfboard.[19] The board caused an 8-inch gash in his scalp, and "peeled his skull from ear to ear",[20] requiring nearly 50 staples to close the wound.[21][22] The incident was widely reported, and alongside the fatal injury of Malik Joyeux that same year, was cited to encourage surfers to wear helmets when surfing reef breaks.[23] Perry would continue to wear a helmet while surfing Pipeline after the accident.[24]
After his recovery, the experience encouraged him to start a career as a lifeguard, where he would be in a position to highlight the importance of surf etiquette and safety.[14]
In 2016, he became a lifeguard for the City and County of Honolulu Ocean Safety.[13] In 2020, he was involved in the rescue of Tomy Dragich, a Peruvian big-wave surfer who hit his head on his board and was knocked unconscious while surfing at Sunset Beach in Oahu.[25][26][27]
His wife, Emilia Perry, is an Australian-born bodyboarder. The two ran the Oahu Surfing Experience, offering surfing lessons[28] and also surfing together at various locations around the world, from rivers in England to Easter Island.[29] He identified as a born-again Christian.[28]
Death
On June 23, 2024, Perry was attacked by a shark near Goat Island, while surfing off Oahu's North Shore.[13] During the attack, he sustained fatal injuries, losing an arm and a leg.[14] Lifeguards brought his body to shore using jetskis and he was pronounced dead by paramedics responding to the scene. He was 49.[18]
^Nathanson, Clayton Everline and Mark Renneker, Andrew (2011). "Personal Protective gear". Surf Survival: The Surfer's Health Handbook. Skyhorse (published June 21, 2011). ISBN978-1616083182.
^Marcus, Benjamin (September 15, 2008). Extreme Surf. Pavilion. p. 65. ISBN9781862058392.
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