Maine lifeguard pulled underwater by shark as officials note rise in near-shore sightings
A lifeguard at Scarborough Beach was briefly dragged five feet underwater by a shark, and state officials say shark sightings near popular beaches have increased recently.
A lifeguard at Scarborough Beach in Maine reported that a shark seized his buoy and pulled him about five feet beneath the surface before he was able to break free and reach shore unharmed. Greg Wilfert initially thought the pull was caused by a boat propeller, but realized no vessel was present.
State marine resources officer Daryen Granata said the incident is part of a broader pattern, with at least a dozen sharks observed close to popular beaches in the region since the previous week. > "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 said.
Experts attribute the uptick to conservation measures that have boosted marine life populations. OCEARCH founder Chris Fischer noted that increased shark presence is expected as ecosystems recover. > "We’re gonna see more of everything, including more sharks," Fischer said, adding that beachgoers should remain aware of their surroundings.
Shark encounters remain uncommon; the International Shark Attack File recorded 25 unprovoked bites in the United States last year.