A leisurely walk on Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg, Maine turned into a harrowing ordeal for Jamie Acord when she found herself waist-deep in quicksand. Acord, who was with her husband, Patrick, recalled the experience, highlighting the unexpected dangers that can lurk even in familiar places.
“It was kind of like I just dropped into a manhole cover,” Acord told PEOPLE. “We were strolling and chatting when suddenly I sank into the sand,” Acord recalled. The unexpected drop left her immobile and shouting for assistance. “I couldn’t feel the ground beneath me. I couldn’t find my balance,” she mentioned.
The incident occurred on June 1, 2024, as the couple strolled along the water’s edge, a routine they had enjoyed many times before without incident. This time, however, the sand beneath Jamie’s feet gave way, creating a quicksand-like trap. “I just dropped like a rock,” she told NBC affiliate WCSH. “I was there and then the next minute I wasn’t.”
Fortunately, Patrick was quick to react, pulling her free from the sand’s grip within seconds. Jamie emerged with only a few scrapes and clothing covered in “wet-cement-like sand,” and a heightened awareness of the potential dangers of supersaturated sand. After the initial shock, the couple inspected the spot where Jamie had sunk, only to find it had filled itself back in, appearing undisturbed.
Jim Britt, spokesperson for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, explained that quicksand, or supersaturated sand, can occur in various places, including Maine. “When people hear the word quicksand, they think jungle movie. The truth about this supersaturated sand is that it won’t cause you to sink completely,” Britt explained. He pointed out that recent winter storms have altered a river’s course, leading to higher water saturation in the sand where visitors walk, making it more unstable.
Acord later took to social media to warn others about her experience, especially emphasizing the risks for those who visit the beach alone or during off-hours. “If the beach is clearing out, there are only one or two people on the beach, and you fall in something like that, and you don’t know what to do, or you can’t get out, you’re kind of stuck,” she cautioned.
Sean Vaillancourt, who manages Popham Beach for Maine’s Bureau of Parks and Land, provided practical advice for those who might find themselves in a similar situation. “Take your time and crawl out if necessary. You can also lean forward or backward in a floating position. Spreading your weight out helps you move more easily,” he advised.
Though Jamie’s experience was dramatic, experts emphasize that such incidents are generally not life-threatening. Britt reassured that remaining calm and using the right techniques can help people safely get out of supersaturated sand. “The key is to stay calm, lean back, and find your way out,” he recommended.
Popham Beach is one of Maine’s busiest state parks, and park staff have since placed warning signs in areas most likely to be affected by the supersaturated sand.
