“Pirates of the Caribbean” actor Tamayo Perry killed by a shark while surfing in Hawaii

“A lifeguard loved by all,” said Kurt Lager, acting chief of Honolulu Ocean Safety, as he paid tribute to Perry, who died at the age of 49.

Lifeguard and actor Tamayo Perry has died in a shark attack at the age of 49.

On Sunday, June 23, Perry — who worked as a lifeguard for the City and County of Honolulu Ocean Safety — was fatally injured in an incident that occurred while he was surfing off the island of Oahu in Hawaii, according to the Associated Press.

Shayne Enright of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department confirmed at a news conference that authorities had responded to calls of a surfer attacked just before 1 p.m. local time around Mālaekahana Beach on Oahu’s north shore.

“As you can imagine, this is (an) extremely difficult time for all of us. I ask for your kindness and patience as we all try to get through this next hour in the weeks and months ahead,” Enright said, confirming that Honolulu Ocean Safety responded to the attack via jet ski before the victim was brought to shore .

Related: Girl, 16, dies in shark attack in Australia after jumping into water to swim with dolphins: ‘We are devastated’

Honolulu paramedics “then assisted in his declaration of death,” Enright said at the conference.

Perry has starred in popular films, including 2011 Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. He also had a role in 2002 Blue crushamong other projects.

Enright did not immediately respond when asked for comment by PEOPLE.

During the conference, Acting Chief of Honolulu Ocean Safety Kurt Lager said Perry was “a lifeguard loved by all.”

Related: Boston woman killed in shark attack while paddle boarding near Bahamas Resort

“He’s well known on the North Shore. He is a professional surfer known worldwide,” Lager added.

“Tamayo’s personality was infectious and as much as people loved him, he loved everyone else more,” Lager continued, before asking for privacy for the family.

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“It’s just a tragic loss,” Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said, adding, “Tamayo was a legendary waterman and highly respected.”

According to the AP, Enright confirmed that Perry began his career with the Ocean Safety department in July 2016. Enright added that Ocean Safety personnel posted shark alerts in the area after the incident, the outlet added.

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