‘Too close for comfort’: Maine lifeguard recounts being dragged 5 to 6 feet underwater by great white shark Greg Wilfert, manager of Scarborough Beach State Park, said he thought he had gotten caught in a boat propellerSCARBOROUGH, Maine — A Maine lifeguard with more than five decades of experience survived an encounter with a great white shark in Scarborough. when a shark grabbed the flotation device and dragged it beneath the surface. “I thought I was stuck in a boat propeller, and I realized I wasn’t,” Wilfert said. Wilfert was dragged 5 to 6 feet down before he could free himself from the strap that was attached to the rescue torpedo. Although he didn’t see the shark, Wilfert knew that was what activated his flotation device. “There’s no fish that can do that,” Wilfert said. “It has to be a big fish or a shark. It had to be the shark.” Wilfert was able to safely swim to shore and get out of the water without further incident. “I was hoping he wouldn’t come back out to check on me,” she said. A passerby told Scarborough officials that they saw the rescue torpedo emerge about 6 to 8 feet out of the water, shortly after Wilfert began swimming back to shore. According to officials, the reported shark activity and the circumstances surrounding the encounter are very consistent with other activity they have seen. The activity and circumstances have also been reviewed and corroborated by New England Aquarium shark expert John Chisholm. Wilfert tells Maine’s Total Coverage that there have been more than a dozen shark sightings in recent days. Scarborough Beach State Park was closed to swimming for about an hour after the encounter as lifeguards and public safety personnel assessed the situation and monitored the surrounding waters. The park now has lifeguards closer to shore to inspect the water, a jet ski crossing the ocean and a drone flying overhead. Visitors can also immerse themselves in the ocean up to their waist. “Right now, we’re not going to take any chances,” said Wilfert, who is in his 55th year as a lifeguard at Scarborough Beach State Park. Officials said there continue to be a significant number of great white sharks observed in the water off Scarborough Beach State Park, as well as off Higgins Beach. People have seen multiple sharks moving through the nearshore waters and sandbar areas. Last week, almost a dozen young sharks were spotted at Pine Point Beach in Scarborough in 48 hours. The Scarborough Public Safety Team said the presence of great white sharks in the area is an ongoing concern and has encouraged beachgoers to use caution when entering the water and do the following: Pay close attention to lifeguards and posted beach advisories. Immediately get out of the water when told to do so by lifeguards or public safety. personnel.Avoid swimming near schools of fish, seals or areas where birds are actively feeding.Avoid swimming alone and be alert to changing conditions.Understand that shark activity can occur close to shore and in relatively shallow waters.Report any shark sightings to lifeguards or local public safety personnel.City officials said they will continue to monitor shark activity in Scarborough and will share additional information with the public when necessary.
