A Maine lifeguard who has more than five decades of experience survived an encounter with a great white shark. Wilfert was pulled about 5 to 6 feet down before he was able to free himself from the strap that was attached to the rescue torpedo. Although he did not see the shark, Wilfert knew that is what pulled on his flotation device. “We’re not taking any chances,” said Wilfert, who is in his 55th year as a lifeguard at Scarborough Beach State Park. Local officials said there are still a significant number of great white sharks being observed in the water off Scarborough Beach State Park, as well as off Higgins Beach.