Officials are urging beachgoers in Scarborough to be aware of their surroundings after a lifeguard was pulled underwater by a white shark over the weekend.

Police say a lifeguard at Scarborough Beach State Park was using a rescue torpedo Saturday afternoon when the shark grabbed the device and pulled him 5 to 6 feet below the water’s surface.

The lifeguard was able to free himself from the strap attached to the torpedo and swim back to shore.

The beach was closed to swimming for about an hour after the incident.

It comes as officials warn the public to be on the lookout for sharks amid a series of sightings off Scarborough in recent days.

The town says the close encounter on Saturday is consistent with other activity in the area that’s been reviewed and corroborated by a shark expert with the New England Aquarium.

The aquarium says right now is peak shark season.

Beachgoers are encouraged to pay attention to lifeguards and beach advisories and to avoid swimming near schools of fish and seals, which sharks seek out for food.