Lifetime is still a seaside for Maine lifeguard in his 50th year

SCARBOROUGH, Maine (AP) — Greg Wilfert remembers becoming enamored through his initial teenage check out to Scarborough Beach Point out Park.

He in no way lost that loving emotion. He is doing the job his 50th consecutive year as a lifeguard on the similar extend of beach front.

“When I arrived down and noticed the seashore and, I guess, what do you get in touch with it, your initially love? There it is. I uncovered a way to make it operate,” Wilfert, who’s 66, instructed WMTW-Television.

He was 17 at the time of that very first beachy go to as a lifeguard in 1972. Over the decades considering that then, Wilfert carved out his summers for lifeguarding even as he worked as a actual physical schooling teacher and later on ran an antique organization with his late spouse, who passed in 2019.

These days, he considers himself a retired instructor. But he nonetheless hasn’t offered up his summer months position.

“Just about anything else can be cut. The seaside was hardly ever likely to be on the chopping block. It is just who I am,” Wilfert said.

At a person place, the point out tried out to divest the park in 1992 to preserve on lease, and Wilfert finished up leasing the land and running it himself. He retains a enterprise fascination in Blackpoint Sources Administration, which presently runs the park.

His formal career title is supervisor of the park, but he mentioned he spends 90% of his time lifeguarding.

By way of all those years, there have been much more than 900 rescues but not a one drowning, he claimed.

“Greg has a enthusiasm for the beach. He’s passionate about generating absolutely sure our patrons are safe and sound,” mentioned David Currier, 61, who’s in his 39th time performing as a lifeguard at the beach.

Above the many years, Currier said, they have viewed young children increase up. Some of them are now grandparents.

Wilfert claimed it can be been enjoyment interacting with people and sharing his knowledge of the surf and rip currents. And he has no programs to stop. He is in very good form and swims nearly a mile in the ocean each day.

The outdated adage that you are not able to teach an outdated doggy new tricks won’t implement in Wilfert’s scenario.

This summertime, he began teaching a Newfoundland puppy dog named Beacon to serve as an assistant. Wilfert hopes that when Beacon is absolutely grown, the 130-pound pet can turn out to be a section of the rescue crew.

“That pet dog will be able to pull them in and it’s going to be really amazing when she does it,” Wilfert mentioned.

Labor Day marks the stop of the season. Then Wilfert heads to the mountains to go after his other passion — skiing. If which is not more than enough enjoyment, he’s also using traveling classes.

Wilfert and Currier explained they strategy to be back at the beach front subsequent spring.

“Our topic track is ‘Hotel California,’” Wilfert said, quoting the lyrics. “You can verify-out any time you like, but you can in no way go away!”

The Connected Press