A 71-year-old lifeguard survived a harrowing encounter with a great white shark off the coast of Scarborough Beach in Maine on Saturday. According to local authorities, the shark attacked the man’s rescue buoy, pulling him approximately five to six feet underwater before he managed to break free and swim back to shore unharmed. The incident occurred at Scarborough Beach State Park, located 92 miles northeast of Boston, and prompted immediate safety measures, including temporarily closing the beach for about an hour following the attack. Greg Wilfert, the lifeguard and manager of the state park, described the moment in detail. He said he initially believed he had been caught in a boat propeller, a common occurrence during his decades of lifeguarding experience. However, realizing there was no boat nearby, he concluded the force dragging him underwater must have come from a large fish or a shark. “There’s no fish that’s going to do that,” Wilfert told a local television station. “It has to be a big fish or a shark. It had to be the shark.” After freeing himself from the strap connected to the rescue device, Wilfert swam back to shore, and the buoy shot out of the water shortly afterward. The lifeguard immediately alerted others on the beach, urging them to exit the water due to the unknown location of the shark. “I was just screaming at people to get out of the water,” he said, emphasizing the need for caution. The incident follows a series of shark sightings in the area over the past week. Scarborough officials confirmed that more than a dozen sharks have been spotted near the state park, with each sighting involving different individuals. Marine resources officer Daryen Granata noted that such activity is unusual for the region. “Usually we’ll see one or two here and there. This is a large volume, larger than I’ve seen, and I’ve worked this area for 30-plus years,” Granata stated. Experts suggest that increased shark presence near coastal areas may be linked to broader environmental changes. Conservation efforts over recent years have contributed to rising marine life populations, which in turn may attract more sharks to shallower waters. OCEARCH founder Chris Fischer, whose organization tracks sharks through tagging and data collection, emphasized that while such encounters are rare, awareness of the surrounding environment is crucial. “We’re gonna see more of everything, including more sharks,” Fischer said. “It means just try to be a little bit more aware of what’s going on in the environment around you. You see a lot of life, steer clear of that.” Despite the recent surge in shark sightings, shark attacks remain statistically uncommon. According to the International Shark Attack File, there were 25 unprovoked bites reported globally last year. Nevertheless, local authorities have issued specific guidelines to help minimize risks. Scarborough officials advised the public to avoid swimming alone, stay away from areas with schools of fish, seals, or nesting birds, and exercise caution even in shallow waters close to the shore. Wilfert, reflecting on his experience, acknowledged the fear he felt during the encounter. “It was frightening,” he admitted. “I’m not going to deny that.” His account highlights the unpredictable nature of marine environments and underscores the importance of vigilance for both lifeguards and swimmers. As the number of shark sightings continues to rise, officials and experts alike stress the need for continued awareness and adherence to safety protocols.
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