Woman sinks in quicksand 'in split second' on Maine beach in rare natural phenomenon

A woman sank in quicksand while walking on a beach in Maine in a rare natural phenomenon . Jamie Acord's stroll along Popham Beach State Park in Maine took a dramatic turn when she suddenly sank into quicksand up to her hips.

She was picking up garbage and had her hands full when she sank suddenly into the sand. She yelled to her husband: "I can't get out!"

Her husband Patrick managed to pull her free from the quicksand. Ms Acord said: "I couldn't feel the bottom. I couldn't find my footing. A kid would be scared."

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Quicksand, or supersaturated sand as it's scientifically known, isn't reserved for jungle adventures in movies. It's a phenomenon that occurs worldwide, even in the unexpected terrains of Maine .

Contrary to the dangerous situations depicted on screen, people don't actually sink in quicksand. Instead, they remain afloat, which allows victims to wriggle their way to safety, explained Jim Britt, a spokesperson for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

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He said: "People hear the word quicksand they think jungle movie. The reality with this supersaturated sand is you're not going to go under".

Climate change has contributed to a hazardous situation at Maine 's most frequented state park beach , attracting more than 225,000 visitors annually, says Britt. Winter storms have redirected the river flowing into the ocean, causing the sand in popular walking areas to soften and, consequently requiring warning signs placed by the park staff.