Kevin Costner on rumored shark rescue: 'Half the story is true'

LOS ANGELES, April 6 (UPI) -- Kevin Costner has set the record straight about a rumored story that he helped save his wife Christine Baumgartner from a shark attack.

"Well, half the story is true," Costner explained to Extra recently before detailing what actually took place.

"My wife was on a paddle board with a friend about seven months ago and a big 12-footer came at her about 30 yards off our beach... It came by her about a foot off the side," he said. "She said it displaced the water and and lifted her... and Christine went in to shore and was just really shaken."

According to the actor, he was not even present when the event took place. "She told me while I was in London making Criminal... which was really a helpless feeling," Costner added.

On Facebook Tuesday, Costner joked about the rumored rescue posting a photo of himself from the 1995 post-apocalyptic thriller Waterworld with the caption "Although I do feel well-versed in the art of marine combat, I've fought zero sharks as of late."

Criminal, due in theaters April 15, stars Costner as a dangerous convict who is implanted with the memories of a dead CIA operative played by Ryan Reynolds. "You see his kind of prison instincts come out, matched with a CIA operative's abilities, and which ones he decided to use have many different results," the 61-year-old said of his character.

Costner also notably added in his interview his thoughts on the ongoing presidential race. "I find it embarrassing. I find it highly immature. I think America is really teetering at a low point with the way we talk to each other," he said.