Hawaii’s lifeguard dies while surfing after a shark attacks him

A professional lifeguard died Sunday afternoon after being attacked by a shark while surfing off Hawaii’s Oahu island, authorities said.

City and County of Honolulu Ocean Safety lifeguard Tamayo Perry, 49, died in the attack near Goat Island, Shayne Enright of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department said in a statement.

Honolulu Ocean Safety and the city’s fire, police and emergency medical services responded to Mālaekahana Beach on Oahu’s North Shore just before 1 p.m. after a caller reported seeing a man who appeared to have suffered shark bites, Enright said .

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Lifeguards took Perry to shore by jet ski and paramedics assisted in the death sentence, Enright said.

Perry, who worked as a lifeguard on the North Shore, began his career with the Ocean Safety department in July 2016, Enright said.

Ocean Safety personnel posted shark alerts in the area after the attack, Enright said.

Kurt Lager, acting chief of Honolulu Ocean Safety, said Perry was “a lifeguard loved by all.”

“He’s well known on the North Shore. He is a professional surfer known worldwide,” Lager said at a news conference. “Tamayo’s personality was infectious and as much as people loved him, he loved everyone else more.”

“Tamayo was a legendary waterman and highly respected,” Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said, calling Perry’s death “a tragic loss.”