Wikipedia

Tamayo Perry

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]

Tamayo Perry
Born(1975-04-15)April 15, 1975
Oahu, Hawaii, US
DiedJune 23, 2024(2024-06-23) (aged 49)
Oahu, Hawaii, US
Cause of deathShark attack
Occupation(s)Surfer, lifeguard and actor
Years active1998–2024
Known forPipeline surfer
WorksPirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Hawaii Five-0
Spouse
Emilia Perry
​
(m. 2001)​

Biography

edit

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]

He transitioned his on-camera experience in surfing films to wider audiences when in 2002, he appeared in the film Blue Crush and later appeared in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides in 2011. He also appeared in the episode Kai eʻe of the TV series Hawaii Five-O.[18]

Injury and new career

edit

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

edit

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]

Filmography

edit

Films

edit
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1998 Next in Line Himself Surf film [30]
The Bomb Himself Surf film [30]
2000 Revelation Himself Surf film [30]
2002 All Aboard Himself Surf film [30]
Blue Crush Tamayo [30]
2004 The Big Bounce Stunt performer [31]
Islands in the Stream Surfer Surf film [30]
Loaded Pipe Himself Surf film [30]
2006 NU: Nalu Undergound Himself Surf film by Quicksilver [32]
2009 Beyond the Dream: The Joey Buran Story Himself Documentary [30]
The Arena: North Shore Himself Surf film [30]
2010 Six Days in Paradise Himself [30]
2011 Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Buccaneer Uncredited [30]
2015 The Bridge Manoa Short film [30]
2022 This Surfing Life: Big Wave Guardians Himself [30]
2023 The Best One Ever Himself Sports film [30]

Television

edit
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2001 Primo Freerider Himself Surfing television series [30]
2005 Firsthand Himself [30]
2006 The Daily Habit Himself [30]
2011 Hawaii Five-0 Spike Episode: Kai eʻe [30]
2012 Clean Break Himself Two episodes [30]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Legendary surfer, 'Pirates of the Caribbean' actor, killed in shark attack". Washington Post. June 24, 2024.
  2. ^ Tumin, Remy (June 24, 2024). "Tamayo Perry, Professional Surfer, Dies After Shark Attack Off Oahu". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved June 25, 2024 – via NYTimes.com.
  3. ^ Magazine, SURFING (December 6, 2004). "NORTH SHORE WEEK IN REVIEW". Surfer. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  4. ^ Intern, SURFER (July 22, 2010). "SURF LIKE SLATER". Surfer. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  5. ^ Intern, SURFER (July 22, 2010). "Island at the Center of the World". Surfer. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  6. ^ Stab (June 24, 2024). "Iconic Pipeline Surfer Tamayo Perry Killed By Shark In Hawaii". Stab Mag. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  7. ^ H. N. N. Staff (June 25, 2024). "Fatal shark attack is the first off Oahu in more than two decades". Hawaii News Now. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  8. ^ Magazine, SURFING (December 2, 2008). "North Shore Couch Tour Update". Surfer. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  9. ^ George, Sam (February 10, 2022). "A Morning Warm Up Surf at Pipeline Is Just About the Best Thing Ever". The Inertia. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Pierson, Dashel (June 25, 2024). "Surf World Reacts to Tamayo Perry's Tragic Death". Surfer. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  11. ^ Intern, SURFER (July 22, 2010). "Who's In Charge?". Surfer. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  12. ^ Elder, Lee (July 20, 1992). "Hueneme surfer Howard prevails". The Press-Courier. p. 12. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  13. ^ a b c Thiessen, Mark (June 24, 2024). "Former pro surfer known for riding huge Pipeline waves dies in shark attack while surfing off Oahu". AP News. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  14. ^ a b c "Pipeline specialist Tamayo Perry killed by a shark off Oahu". Surfer Today. June 24, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  15. ^ Magazine, SURFING (April 29, 2005). "2005 BILLABONG PRO TAHITI: VON ZIPPER TRIALS - DAY 2". Surfer. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  16. ^ Magazine, SURFING (May 12, 2003). "THE 2003 BILLABONG PRO TEAHUPO'O DAY EIGHT". Surfer. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  17. ^ Magazine, SURFING (January 21, 2004). "LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON, LIKE GRANDSON". Surfer. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  18. ^ a b ""Legendary waterman" Tamayo Perry killed in shark attack while surfing off Oahu in Hawaii". CBS News. June 24, 2024. Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  19. ^ Magazine, SURFING (November 29, 2005). "2005 North Shore Week In Review: 11-19-05 to 11-26-05". Surfer. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  20. ^ Magazine, SURFING (November 21, 2005). "2005 North Shore Week In Review: 11-11-05 to 11-18-05". Surfer. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  21. ^ Magazine, SURFING (December 2, 2005). "TRAGEDY AT PIPELINE: Tahitian Surfer Drowns". Surfer. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  22. ^ Magazine, SURFING (December 17, 2005). "Andy Irons Wins The 2005 Rip Curl Pipeline Masters And 2005 Triple Crown Of Surfing". Surfer. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  23. ^ Nathanson, Clayton Everline and Mark Renneker, Andrew (2011). "Personal Protective gear". Surf Survival: The Surfer's Health Handbook. Skyhorse (published June 21, 2011). ISBN 978-1616083182.
  24. ^ Marcus, Benjamin (September 15, 2008). Extreme Surf. Pavilion. p. 65. ISBN 9781862058392.
  25. ^ "Grave accidente de un surfista en Sunset Beach" (in Spanish). March 1, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  26. ^ DUKE (March 1, 2020). "Surfista peruano sufrió grave accidente en Sunset". DUKE (in Spanish). Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  27. ^ Waves, Redação (March 1, 2020). "Tomy Dragich – Apagão em Sunset". Waves (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  28. ^ a b "Legendary Pipeline Surfer Tamayo Perry Killed in Shark Attack". Yahoo News. June 24, 2024. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  29. ^ Kempton, Jim (2021). Women on Waves: A Culture History of Surfing. Pegasus Books. ISBN 9781643137254.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Tamayo Perry | Actor, Stunts". IMDb. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  31. ^ The Big Bounce (2004) ⭐ 4.9 | Comedy, Crime. Retrieved June 26, 2024 – via m.imdb.com.
  32. ^ NU: Nalu Underground. Retrieved June 26, 2024 – via www.thesurfnetwork.com.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tamayo_Perry&oldid=1264914870"
  NODES
INTERN 3
Note 3