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WorldActive · 31h ↳ Maine lifeguard escapes after great white shark drags him underwater

Maine lifeguard escapes after great white shark drags him underwater

Greg Wilfert, director of Scarborough Beach State Park, survived Saturday's encounter by slipping out of his rescue torpedo.

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Summary, timeline and people extracted by Claude from 25 items across 3 sources · 9h ago. Quotes are verbatim.

On Saturday, Greg Wilfert, a veteran lifeguard and director of Scarborough Beach State Park in Maine, was dragged 5 to 6 feet underwater by a great white shark that grabbed his rescue torpedo. Wilfert escaped by slipping out of the device and swimming to shore unharmed. The incident follows multiple shark sightings near Maine beaches the previous week and prompted authorities to implement heightened safety measures.

  • Greg Wilfert, a 71-year-old veteran lifeguard at Scarborough Beach State Park, was pulled 5-6 feet underwater by a great white shark on Saturday but escaped unharmed by slipping out of his rescue torpedo.
  • The encounter occurred amid multiple shark sightings near Maine beaches the previous week, prompting lifeguards to implement heightened safety protocols including drone surveillance and increased beach patrols.
  • Wilfert remained focused on his duties, immediately warning beachgoers to exit the water upon returning to shore, and the beach was temporarily closed for one hour while officials assessed the situation.
  • Officials noted that great white sharks are appearing closer to shore in areas where they do not typically venture, with beach safety measures adjusted accordingly for the remainder of the season.

How it unfolded

  1. Report Incident reported, shark protocol observations noted

    Scarborough Police Department released information about the encounter. Officials noted increased shark activity closer to shore than typical, with beachgoers and lifeguards adjusting safety practices.

    “Will I swim the buoys this year? No. I'll swim, but I'll be in chest-deep water.”

    Greg Wilfert · Google News ↗
  2. Event Beach temporarily closed following encounter

    Scarborough Beach State Park was closed to swimming for an hour while officials assessed the situation after the shark encounter.

  3. Event Great white shark drags lifeguard underwater

    While swimming 150 yards from shore with other lifeguards, Greg Wilfert was pulled 5 to 6 feet below the surface when a shark grabbed his rescue torpedo. He escaped by slipping out of it and swimming to shore.

    “At first, I thought I got caught in a boat propeller. Once I was under the water, I knew it wasn't a boat propeller.”

    Greg Wilfert · Google News ↗
  4. Event Lifeguards enter shark protocol

    Scarborough Beach lifeguards began scanning water with a drone and increased patrols with a Jet Ski and beach vehicles on Thursday and Friday.

    “because everyone in the public was worried, they wanted to have a more visible presence”

    Greg Wilfert · Google News ↗
  5. Event Reid State Park temporarily closed

    Reid State Park in Georgetown temporarily closed swimming due to a shark sighting on Friday.

  6. Event Multiple shark sightings near Maine beaches

    Two sharks spotted at Pine Point Beach on Tuesday and five to seven more spotted Wednesday, prompting increased concern among beachgoers.

What people are saying verbatim

“At first, I thought I got caught in a boat propeller. Once I was under the water, I knew it wasn't a boat propeller.”

Greg Wilfert, Lifeguard, director of Scarborough Beach State Park · The Portland Press Herald ↗

“It just goes over your head and under your arm. I slipped out of it and got back to the surface, and I just started swimming as fast as I could to shore.”

Greg Wilfert, Lifeguard, director of Scarborough Beach State Park · The Portland Press Herald ↗

“People on the beach said they saw this rescue can come flying up from under the water and going up in the air about 4 to 5 feet.”

Greg Wilfert, Lifeguard, director of Scarborough Beach State Park · The Portland Press Herald ↗

“What did you feel like when you got back to shore? I felt like I had a job to do.”

Greg Wilfert, Lifeguard, director of Scarborough Beach State Park · The Portland Press Herald ↗

“Will I swim the buoys this year? No. I'll swim, but I'll be in chest-deep water.”

Greg Wilfert, Lifeguard, director of Scarborough Beach State Park · The Portland Press Herald ↗

“because everyone in the public was worried, they wanted to have a more visible presence and put a Jet Ski in the water and had vehicles to patrol the beach.”

Greg Wilfert, Lifeguard, director of Scarborough Beach State Park · The Portland Press Herald ↗