Shark Yanked Lifeguard Under — Chaos Follows

A veteran Maine lifeguard says a great white shark yanked him underwater at Scarborough Beach State Park, and he lived to tell the story.

Quick Take

Greg Wilfert says a shark grabbed his rescue device and pulled him about six feet underwater.
Wilfert says he broke free from the strap and swam back to shore without injury.
Scarborough officials say the account fits recent shark activity seen off the Maine coast.
The beach was briefly cleared and then reopened after officials checked the water.

What Happened in the Water

Greg Wilfert, a 71-year-old lifeguard who has worked Scarborough Beach State Park for 55 years, was on patrol Saturday when the encounter happened. He said he felt a hard pull while swimming with a rescue torpedo, then realized he was not being dragged by a boat propeller. Wilfert said he slipped out of the strap, got to the surface, and made it back to shore safely.

Scarborough officials said a witness saw the rescue torpedo pop out of the water as Wilfert swam back. Local police and marine officials also said the incident matched other shark activity in the area. The reports say the animal was a great white shark, and they describe the event as a close call rather than a bite attack. Wilfert was not injured and returned to work the next day.

Why the Story Got So Much Attention

This was not a random scare on an empty coast. Reports say more than half a dozen white sharks had been seen on video near Maine beaches in the prior 48 hours, and one broadcast said there had been more than a dozen recent sightings off the coast. That backdrop explains why officials moved fast and why the story spread so quickly.

The timing also matters for families who use Maine beaches in summer. Scarborough Beach State Park was closed to swimming for about an hour after the incident while lifeguards and public safety crews checked the water. Officials then reopened the beach, but kept a red and yellow alert in place, which means swimmers are still being told to use caution and check with lifeguards before entering the water.

What Officials Say, and What Remains Unclear

Public reporting gives a strong account of the lifeguard’s escape, but it still relies mostly on witness descriptions and outlet reporting. The available material does not include a full police incident report, a forensic exam of the rescue gear, or uninterrupted video of the underwater moment. That means the broad event is well described, while some details about the exact mechanics still rest on testimony.

'Too close for comfort': Maine lifeguard recounts being dragged underwater by great white shark | Click on the image to read the full story https://t.co/r0hJ4iexoG

— WMTW TV (@WMTWTV) August 11, 2026

Even so, the core facts are plain enough. A veteran lifeguard says a shark grabbed his rescue device, pulled him underwater, and forced him to fight his way free. In a state that has already seen serious shark concerns, the episode is another sign that local officials are treating Maine waters with more caution than they did in the past.