Watch: Humpback whale swallows kayaker in Chile, spits him out moments later

A humpback whale in southern Chile briefly swallowed a 24-year-old kayaker before spitting him out unharmed. The incident, captured on video, happened near the San Isidro Lighthouse in the Strait of Magellan. Adrián Simancas was kayaking with his father, Dell, when the whale suddenly surfaced and engulfed him along with his kayak.

In the viral video, Dell Simancas can be heard shouting "Relax! Relax!" as his son disappeared into the whale’s mouth. Five seconds later, Adrián bobbed back to the surface, stunned but safe.

"I thought it had swallowed me," Adrián was quoted by AFP, describing the sensation of a slimy texture and dark blue and white colours surrounding him before he sank. "At that moment, I thought I was going to die."


His father initially feared the worst when he turned around and could not see Adrián or his kayak. "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," Dell told TVN Chile.

Experts explain what happened
Marine biologists say the whale was likely engaged in lunge-feeding, a behavior where it surges toward the surface with its mouth wide open to capture krill or fish. "It seems that the kayak was right in the whale's feeding patch," said Maria Jose Perez of the University of Chile, as per AFP.

According to CNN, wildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta explained that humpback whales do not intentionally target humans and have narrow throats, making it physically impossible for them to swallow a person.

The Strait of Magellan is a major tourist attraction known for its diverse marine life, including dolphins and whales. However, its frigid waters pose a survival risk, with temperatures as low as 39°F (4°C) even in summer.

Despite the terrifying experience, Adrián and Dell remain passionate about the ocean. When asked if they would go kayaking again, they answered in unison, "Of course."