AI Generated Image
Shark drags lifeguard underwater at popular Maine beach: "It was frightening"
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- Lifeguard Greg Wilfert was dragged underwater by a shark at Scarborough Beach State Park, Maine, after the shark grabbed his rescue device, but he safely freed himself and was not injured.
- The incident followed videos showing over half a dozen white sharks near local beaches within 48 hours, with biologists estimating more than a dozen juvenile sharks, 6 to 12 feet long, are now in the area.
- Scarborough Beach was temporarily closed after the encounter but has since reopened, with lifeguards actively monitoring the waters using drones and jet skis to deter sharks.
- Experts attribute the increased shark presence to warmer waters making New England more hospitable, noting the number of sharks is unusually high for the region at this time of year.
- Officials urge beachgoers to exercise caution by avoiding splashing, seals, and schools of fish, swimming with others, and following lifeguard instructions, while maintaining alerts until shark activity subsides.
