Pirates of the Caribbean actor Tamayo Perry killed by shark while surfing off Hawaii

Tamayo Perry starred in the 2011 film, Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tide.

Pirates of the Caribbean star Tamayo Perry has died after being attacked by a shark in Hawaii.

AP News has reported the 49-year-old - who made a brief appearance in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and 2002′s Blue Crush, among other projects, was attacked by a shark while surfing off the island of Oahu in Hawaii on Sunday afternoon.

The actor, who was also a professional lifeguard of City and County of Honolulu Ocean Safety, died in the attack near Goat Island, Shayne Enright of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department said in a statement.

Authorities said a professional lifeguard died after he was attacked by a shark while surfing off the island of Oahu in Hawaii on Sunday afternoon. File photo / AP

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

Lifeguards brought Perry to shore by jet ski and paramedics assisted with the death pronouncement, Enright said.

Perry, who worked as a lifeguard on the North Shore and was understood to be close friends with singer Jack Johnson, began his career with the Ocean Safety department in July 2016, Enright said.

In recent years, Tamayo Perry has worked as a professional lifeguard. Photo / @oahusurfingexperience

Ocean Safety personnel posted shark warnings in the area following the attack, Enright said.

Honolulu Ocean Safety Acting Chief Kurt Lager said Perry was “a lifeguard loved by all”.

“He’s well known on the North Shore. He’s 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”.