A casual walk on Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg, Maine, became a distressing event for Jamie Acord as she suddenly found herself waist-deep in quicksand. Acord was with her husband, Patrick, at the time of the incident, which served as a stark reminder of the potential hazards that can emerge unexpectedly, even in familiar surroundings.
“It was kind of like I just dropped into a manhole cover,” Acord shared with PEOPLE. “We were walking and having a conversation when all of a sudden I plunged into the sand,” she recollected. Unable to move and calling for help, she said, “I couldn’t feel the ground underneath me. I struggled to find my balance.”
The incident took place on June 1, 2024, during one of the couple’s regular walks along the shoreline, an activity they had enjoyed many times previously without any issues. But this time around, the sand beneath Jamie’s feet unexpectedly collapsed, forming a quicksand-like pit. “I just dropped like a stone,” she narrated to NBC affiliate WCSH. “One moment I was there, the next moment I was gone.”
Fortunately, Patrick was able to act swiftly, extricating her from the grip of the sand within mere seconds. Jamie was left with minor scrapes and clothes covered in sand that felt like “wet cement”, and a newfound recognition of the potential risks of supersaturated sand. Post the initial shock, the couple inspected the spot where Jamie had sunk, only to find that it had filled back in and looked undisturbed.
Jim Britt, a spokesperson for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, clarified that phenomena like quicksand or supersaturated sand can occur anywhere, including in Maine. “People associate quicksand with jungle movies, but the reality of this supersaturated sand is that it won’t entirely engulf you,” Britt clarified. He noted that recent winter storms had changed the course of a river, leading to increased water saturation in the sand where people walk, thereby making it less stable.
Following her experience, Acord took to social media to caution others, particularly those who frequent the beach alone or outside peak hours. “If you’re one of the few remaining people on the beach and you fall into something like this, unsure of how to react or unable to escape, you’re essentially trapped,” she warned.
Sean Vaillancourt, the manager of Popham Beach for Maine’s Bureau of Parks and Land, offered practical advice for people who might find themselves in a similar predicament. “Take your time and crawl out if necessary. It can also help to lean forward or backward in a floating position. Spreading your weight out makes it easier to move,” he suggested.
While Jamie’s experience was indeed alarming, experts stress that such occurrences are typically not fatal. Britt emphasized that maintaining composure and applying the correct techniques can help individuals safely escape from supersaturated sand. “The key is to stay calm, lean back, and find your way out,” he advised.
Popham Beach, being one of the busiest state parks in Maine, has since installed warning signs in areas most likely to be affected by the supersaturated sand.
