A lifeguard swimming with a torpedo buoy was pulled underwater Saturday afternoon by a white shark at Scarborough Beach State Park when the apex predator grabbed the rescue device, according to the Scarborough Police Department.
The shark pulled the lifeguard about 5 to 6 feet below the surface before he freed himself from the strap and swam safely back to shore, according to the department. A bystander reported seeing the torpedo buoy fly 6 to 8 feet out of the water after the lifeguard began swimming away.
There’s been multiple shark sightings along Maine’s coast over the past week. Reid State Park in Georgetown closed its beaches to swimmers Monday after shark sightings Friday and Saturday, and numerous white sharks were spotted in the waters off Scarborough last week.
Scarborough public safety officials said the reported shark encounter with the lifeguard is “very consistent with other activity we have seen and have been reviewed and corroborated by shark expert John Chisholm with New England Aquarium.”
Scarborough Beach State Park was closed to swimming for approximately one hour after the encounter while lifeguards and public safety officials assessed the situation and monitored the surrounding waters.
“There continues to be a significant number of white sharks being observed in the waters off the Scarborough Beach State Park and Higgins Beach areas,” the Scarborough Police Department said. “Recent observations have included multiple sharks moving through the nearshore waters and sandbar areas.”
Scarborough public safety officials encouraged beachgoers to:
– Pay close attention to lifeguards and posted beach advisories.
– Immediately exit the water when instructed by lifeguards or public safety personnel.
– Avoid swimming near schools of fish, seals or areas where birds are actively feeding.
– Avoid swimming alone and remain aware of changing conditions.
– Understand that shark activity can occur close to shore and in relatively shallow water.
– Report any shark sightings to lifeguards or local public safety personnel.