Pirates of Caribbean star dies after shark attack

A actor who starred in Pirates of the Caribbean has died after a suspected shark attack. Tamayo Perry, 49, was found dead after surfing in Hawaii on Sunday.

He was discovered with a number of shark bites. Honolulu Emergency Medical Services said Tamayo had been surfing off Goat Island, also known as Mokuauia, near Laie, Hawaii, before he was found at 1pm on Sunday, reports MirrorOnline.

He had been taking a break from lifeguard duties when he was surfing. He was pronounced dead at the scene and his death was confirmed by officials after his next-of-kin were notified.

READ MORE: GoFundMe rules explained as Jay Slater page raises £33k

Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp, click the link to join

Tamayo was brought to the shore by lifeguards via a jet ski, officials told the Star-Advertiser. The actor, who starred in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, may have suffered more than one shark bite, emergency crews believe.

His family has asked for privacy at this time. Members of the public have also been warned to stay out of the water, with shark warning signs posted around the area.

Acting Ocean Safety Chief Kurt Lager released a statement following his death and said: "Tamayo Perry was a lifeguard loved by all, well-known on the North Shore, a professional surfer known worldwide around the world." He added: "Tamayo’s personality was infectious, and as much as people loved him, he loved everyone else more. Our condolences go out to Tamayo’s family and to the entire lifeguard ohana. We’re asking for some privacy for his family at this time."

Mayor Rick Blangiardi urged fans to respect the family's wishes for privacy. He said the death was a "tragic loss" and added: "Tamayo was a legendary waterman and highly respected [...] a great member of our Ocean Safety team; it’s just really hard to imagine, so we just want to pay our respects to our guys."

"I hope everyone wishes the family the best honours and respects the situation." Tamayo's friend Jason Bitzer also shared a tribute on Facebook.

He wrote: "The things we have seen! My brother in Christ I love you brah! Tamayo, I won’t get over this until I see you in heaven. Tamayo Perry you weren’t my friend you were my brother, the pain we're collectively feeling is immense."

Tamayo had been surfing for more than 15 years and taught others through Oahu Surfing Experience with his wife, Emilia Perry. He previously spoke about a near death experience he was involved in while surfing.

"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. The incident happened all because of someone elses 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," he wrote in his bio.

As well as Pirates of the Caribbean, Tamayo appeared in Lost, Hawaii Five-0 and Blue Crush. He also worked on a number of ad campaigns for companies including Coca-Cola and Nissan Xterra.