Adrián Simancas, a 23-year-old kayaker, found himself in a heart-stopping situation when he was accidentally engulfed by a humpback whale in the Strait of Magellan, off Chile’s Patagonian coast. While paddling with his father, he felt a sudden force from behind, plunging him into the whale's mouth. “I felt a slimy texture brush my face,” he recounted, realizing the terrifying moment he was in.
His father, Dall, was filming nearby and captured the jaw-dropping incident on video. After a moment of panic and reflection on possible survival, Adrián was miraculously expelled back into the water. “I thought I had died!” he exclaimed, relieved to find himself still breathing.
Whale experts explained that humpback whales have narrow throats, making it physically impossible for them to swallow large objects like kayaks or humans. Adrián's close encounter likely stemmed from the whale unintentionally scooping him up while feeding on fish.
Reflecting on the experience, he feels it was a “second chance” that encouraged him to appreciate life in new ways. This incident serves as a vital reminder for water sports enthusiasts to stay vigilant in whale habitats.
