Maine lifeguard "started swimming like hell" when Shark pulled him underwater

A Maine lifeguard recounted his harrowing encounter with a shark while he was swimming at Scarborough Beach on Saturday. According to Greg Wilfert, he instinctively began swimming "like hell" when a shark grabbed his buoy and dragged him underwater. Initially, Wilfert thought he had been caught in the propeller of a passing boat, but soon realized there was no boat in sight. He was pulled about five feet below the surface before managing to break free and surface unharmed.

Officials along the East Coast have reported an increase in shark sightings near popular beaches in the region. Daryen Granata, Scarborough's marine resources officer, noted that while they typically see only one or two sharks in the area, there have been at least a dozen spotted in recent days. This surge in shark activity can be attributed to conservation efforts that have led to a growth in marine life populations, according to experts.

The surge in shark sightings is a result of conservation efforts that have led to an increase in marine life populations in recent years, according to experts. OCEARCH founder Chris Fischer, who studies sharks, warned that people should remain vigilant and avoid areas with a high density of marine life. However, shark encounters remain rare, with the International Shark Attack File reporting only 25 unprovoked bites last year.