Hawaii lifeguard killed in shark attack after surfing: 'A tragic loss'

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A Hawaiian lifeguard died Sunday after suffering a shark attack as he was surfing off the island of Oahu, according to authorities.

Tamayo Perry, 49, a City and County of Honolulu Ocean Safety lifeguard, died from the shark bites near Goat Island, Honolulu Emergency Services Department's Shayne Enright said in a statement to The Associated Press.

Honolulu Ocean Safety and the city's fire, police and emergency medical services departments responded shortly before 1 p.m. Sunday to Mālaekahana Beach on Oahu's North Shore following a report that a man appeared to have suffered shark bites, Enright said.

Lifeguards used jet skis to pull Perry to shore where paramedics made the death pronouncement, according to Enright. 

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Tamayo Perry was also a professional surfer. In this photo, Perry is seen surfing during round three of the Billabong Pro trials on May 4, 2003, at Teahupoo, Tahiti, French Polynesia.  (Steve Robertson/ Getty Images)

Enright said Ocean Safety personnel posted shark warnings in the area after the attack on Perry.

Perry, 49, was a highly respected and "legendary waterman," according to Honolulu's mayor. (Facebook/Tamayo Perry )

The 49-year-old was a professional surfer and an actor who appeared in the movies "Blue Crush" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," along with a role in an episode of "Hawaii Five-0."

Perry began his career with the Ocean Safety department in July 2016, Enright said.

A Hawaiian lifeguard died Sunday after suffering a shark attack as he was surfing off the island of Oahu. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones)

Honolulu Ocean Safety Acting Chief Kurt Lager described Perry as a lifeguard "loved by all."

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

Tamayo Perry, 49, was pronounced dead by paramedics. (Nick Kapule/Fox News Digital)

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said Perry's death was "a tragic loss."

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"Tamayo was a legendary waterman and highly respected," the mayor said.

Fox News' Stephen Sorace along with The Associated Press contributed to this report.