Actor Tamayo Perry’s eerie warning about the fatal attack before the “Sharky” commercial

Tamayo Perry has always had a cautious fascination with sharks.

A professional surfer and lifeguard who grew up on the beaches of Oahu, Hawaii – and whose talent and local fame earned him appearances in Pirates of the Caribbean And Blue Swarm– he often posted online about sharks and shark attacks.

In July 2015, he reflected on Facebook on the infamous moment when surfer Mick Fanning was attacked by two sharks in South Africa, describing it as a “great sign” that Jesus’ mercy was “more than sufficient,” before noting that scientists aren’t sure whether sharks can see color and that the world’s largest predatory fish can’t swim in backyards.

“Still, sharks scare me and I’m glad the good Lord had Mick’s back today,” Perry wrote. “Only the good Lord can say when your time has come.”

In another online post, Perry, 49, referred to himself as “The Jaws Fan.” In a third post, Perry even admitted that he could sense when sharks were nearby while surfing. A friend even told The Daily Beast that after surfing nearly every day at a spot in northeast Oahu known for sharks, Perry “always alluded to seeing them and feeling their presence.”

“Can people smell sharks nearby??? I don’t know if I’m imagining it but I swear I can smell when they’re nearby,” Perry wrote in a June 2019 Facebook post.

Perry’s online thoughts about sharks seem both prophetic and harrowing following his tragic death Sunday from a shark attack. Authorities say he was attacked at the popular northeast Oahu surfing spot near Goat Island and was brought to shore by rescue workers at Malaekahana Beach shortly before 1 p.m.

He appeared to have suffered multiple shark bites, but the type of shark that attacked him is still unclear, authorities said. According to Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources, Perry’s death was one of four shark incidents in the state this year, and while most of the local shark attacks involve surfers, only a small percentage are fatal.

The attack sent shockwaves through the surfing community, where Perry will be remembered as a beloved friend, actor and athlete.

Perry was “humble” and always a joy to be around, said Matt Paul, a professional photographer who described the surfer as one of the “nicest guys ever” whom he was fortunate to call his friend for more than a decade.

“He always said hello and took the time to remember everyone’s name,” Paul said. “He was a friendly, happy person who was always willing to surf and help others. He always wanted to work with photographers.”

Paul said he had come with Perry several times to the surf spot in northeast Oahu where surfer Perry was found dead, and described the spot as notorious for its shark atmosphere and as a “spot that people go to because there are no waves there in the summer on the North Shore.”

“Everyone thinks and talks about sharks when they go out to this place,” he said. “One time I was about to paddle out when Tamayo made a friendly, funny comment like, ‘Oh, there are lots of sharks out there, be careful.'”

He said that while Perry’s death was a tragic loss, he took comfort in knowing that the surfer died doing what he loved.

“Even though it’s a terrible goodbye, he did what he loved,” he added. “When I think about it, it seems a lot like ‘Pirates of the Caribbean.'”

Perry burst onto the professional surfing scene in 1999 when he won the Pipe Masters Trials and competed for 15 years. After surviving a near-fatal head injury after being struck by a falling surfboard, Perry dedicated a portion of Oahu Surf Experience, the surf school he ran with his wife, to safe surfing practices and etiquette.

In 2016, Perry became a lifeguard for the North Shore and the County of Honolulu Ocean Safety. His success earned him many acting gigs, including the lead role in an episode of Hawaii Five-0 and a role in the film, The big leap.

“Tamayo Perry, an eight-year veteran of Ocean Safety and well-known North Shore boatman, was a model of bravery, dedication and a deep sense of duty, serving our community with unwavering devotion,” Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said in a statement Monday. “His heroic actions and tireless efforts to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors will never be forgotten.”