Kayaker's Close Encounter with a Humpback Whale in Chilean Patagonia
A kayaker in Chilean Patagonia had a harrowing encounter with a humpback whale last weekend when the massive marine mammal briefly swallowed him before spitting him out unharmed. The incident, captured on video by the kayaker’s father, has since gone viral.
Adrián Simancas, 23, was kayaking with his father, Dell, in the Strait of Magellan near Bahía El Águila when the whale surfaced and engulfed him and his yellow kayak for a few seconds. Dell, who was just yards away, filmed the encounter while urging his son to stay calm. “Stay calm, stay calm,” he can be heard saying in the video.
Adrián described the terrifying moment, saying, “I thought I was dead. I thought it had eaten me, that it had swallowed me.” He recounted feeling a “slimy texture” inside the whale’s mouth and seeing only dark blue and white before being released. After resurfacing, his fears shifted to the possibility of hypothermia in the frigid waters or harm coming to his father. Fortunately, Adrián managed to reach his father’s kayak, and both returned to shore safely.
The Strait of Magellan, located about 1,600 miles south of Santiago, is known for its unpredictable waters and is a popular destination for adventure seekers. While humpback whales typically feed on small fish and krill and avoid human contact, experts suggest the whale likely engulfed Adrián accidentally while feeding. Brazilian conservationist Roched Jacobson Seba explained that humpback whales have narrow throats, making it physically impossible for them to swallow large objects like kayaks.
The incident has left Adrián reflecting on the experience as a “second chance” and a reminder of the unpredictability of nature. Wildlife experts caution against using silent vessels like kayaks or paddleboards in areas frequented by whales, as the noise from motorized boats helps whales detect their presence and avoid collisions.
Camera captures moment kayaker says he was briefly swallowed by humpback whale in Chilean Patagonia
“I thought I was dead,” Adrián Simancas said. “I thought it had eaten me, that it had swallowed me.”
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