Near Scarborough Beach State Park, a Maine lifeguard made it back to shore unharmed after a great white shark seized the rescue torpedo he was carrying and dragged him several feet below the surface.
The encounter was a reminder of how fast an ordinary safety patrol can turn dangerous in waters shared by people and marine predators, FOX Weather reported.
Here's what to know
Officials believed the near-miss unfolded while the lifeguard was on shark patrol and carrying a rescue torpedo.
Unfortunately, the shark grabbed the device, according to FOX Weather.
Marine Resource Officer Daryen Granata said the lifeguard was pulled about five to six feet underwater before freeing himself from the strap and getting back to shore.
Officials indicated that the lifeguard was not hurt and got out of the water safely, though Granata admitted the man was a little shaken up.
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A bystander later spotted the flotation device after the lifeguard started swimming to safety.
Authorities halted swimming at Scarborough Beach State Park for about an hour while lifeguards and public safety personnel assessed conditions and kept watch over the area.
More background
Granata said great white sharks are still being spotted frequently near both the state park and Higgins Beach, with several moving through waters close to shore and around the sandbars.
In guidance cited by Fox Weather, officials warned people to stay away from schools of fish, seals, and areas where birds are actively feeding.
All can be signs that predators lurk nearby.
As a BBC report on why wild animals attack humans explained, encounters are often influenced at least in part by human activity that increases our overlap with animals, rather than by aggression alone.
Warmer seas and changes in marine habitats also contribute to increased encounters between humans and potentially dangerous marine wildlife.
What's being done?
In response to the alarming incident, local officials briefly closed the water, monitored the area, and reiterated beach safety guidance.
The Scarborough Public Safety Team, in guidance cited by Fox Weather, urged beachgoers to follow lifeguard instructions, watch posted advisories, and leave the water immediately when told to do so.
They warned people not to go into the water alone and to stay alert as conditions change.
Officials told Fox Weather that the reported shark activity and circumstances surrounding the encounter were "very consistent" with other activity recorded by experts with the New England Aquarium.
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