A 24-year-old kayaker, Adrián Simancas, was briefly engulfed by a humpback whale off the coast of southern Chile and spat out unharmed. The encounter occurred off the San Isidro Lighthouse in the Strait of Magellan as Adrián and his father Dell were paddling their kayaks. The whale suddenly appeared, engulfing the kayak and its rider.
In the viral video, Dell yells “Relax! Relax!” as his son descended into the whale’s mouth. Adrián surfaced five seconds later, shaken but very much alive. He later recalled the experience, stating, “I thought it had swallowed me,” describing the slimy sensation and dark blue and white color that enveloped him as he descended. “At that moment, I thought I was going to die.”
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Dell remembered the instant of fear when he could not see Adrián or his kayak for a couple of seconds. “That was the only moment of fear I really had, because I didn’t see him for like three seconds. And suddenly he shot out,” he said to TVN Chile.
Marine biologists believe the whale was probably lunge-feeding, in which it comes up toward the surface with its mouth agape to capture krill or fish. “It looks like the kayak was in the middle of the whale’s feeding area,” said the University of Chile’s Maria Jose Perez. Wildlife specialist Vanessa Pirotta went on to clarify that humpback whales do not seek out humans deliberately and have constricted throats, which means physically they cannot swallow a human being.
The Strait of Magellan, which is famous for its abundance of marine life, such as dolphins and whales, is still a favorite destination for tourists. Yet, its icy waters, which can fall to 39°F (4°C) in the summer, pose a survival test. Even after the horrific experience, Adrián and Dell both said that they still love the ocean. When asked whether they would kayak again, they both said at the same time, “Of course.”
