71-Year-Old Lifeguard Dragged Underwater By Great White Shark
A lifeguard in Maine, 71, has made the claim that a great white shark dragged him a total of six feet underwater, which left him so scared that he “could’ve beaten Michael Phelps” because he swam so fast out of fear. A worker for Scarborough Beach State Park, Greg Wilfert spoke with WHDH and said that he was taken under the waves suddenly Saturday while around buoys swimming with fellow lifeguards. (RELATED: Woman Loses Arm In Florida Alligator Attack As Hero Boater Saves Her Life) “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,” said Wilfert. Wilfert rushed to take off the flotation device he was wearing prior to racing to shore. Great white shark drags lifeguard underwater at New England beach https://t.co/KqF2WahSMm — Boston 25 News (@boston25) August 10, 2026 “I just swam as fast as I could to the surface, and then I just was hoping it wasn’t behind me,” stated Wilfert, who has been a park employee for 55 years. “I could’ve beaten Michael Phelps.” According to WMTW, a witness spoke with officers in Scarborough and said that a rescue torpedo came out of the ocean shortly following Wilfert beginning to swim to shore. Per the outlet, officials in the area stated that the shark attack lines up with the recent activity in the region and that a New England Aquarium expert backed the circumstances. It was also reported by WMTW recently that around a dozen young sharks have been sighted locally.
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