Maine Lifeguard Dragged Underwater by Great White Shark in Rare Encounter

Greg Wilfert, a 71-year-old lifeguard and park manager at Scarborough Beach in Maine, experienced a terrifying moment over the weekend when a great white shark pulled him five to six feet underwater. Wilfert, who has worked at the beach for 55 years, was swimming near the buoys with other lifeguards when the incident occurred. He initially mistook the attack for his rescue device catching on a nearby boat.

Wilfert managed to detach the strap from his rescue can and swim rapidly back to shore without further contact with the predator. “I thought a boat had come by and grabbed my rescue can because I got pulled under, and I realized right away that it was not a boat, that it had to have been a great white,” he told WHDH. He credited his quick reaction and speed in reaching safety to instinct and adrenaline.

Upon reaching shore, Wilfert immediately shifted into his professional role as lifeguard. He evacuated all swimmers from the water and closed the beach for one hour as a precautionary measure. His decisive action prevented potential additional encounters between beachgoers and the shark.

Since the encounter, authorities have deployed jet skis and drones to monitor the area for additional great white activity. Wilfert sustained no injuries but said he is treating the incident with appropriate seriousness. He announced he will avoid swimming near the buoys for an extended period while noting that rising great white presence in Maine waters demands heightened vigilance at all beaches.