Humpback Whale Swallows Kayaker, Spits Him Out Seconds Later

A kayaker in Chile thought he was dead after a humpback whale appeared to swallow him whole, only to spit him out moments later, unharmed.

The terrifying moment was filmed by the man’s father off the coast of Chilean Patagonia in Bahía El Águila.

Adrián Simancas was kayaking with his father, Dell Simancas, when the whale suddenly surfaced, enveloping him in its mouth before submerging beneath the water.

“I thought I was dead,” Adrián told the Associated Press. “I thought it had eaten me, that it had swallowed me.”

@c4news A male kayaker was swallowed by a humpback whale off Chilean Patagonia before being released seconds later, unharmed. Adrián Simancas was kayaking with his father, who filmed this video as the massive mammal suddenly surfaced. The animal trapped Simancas and his yellow kayak in its mouth briefly, before letting him go. #Whale #Patagonia #Kayaking #Channel4News #C4News ♬ original sound – Channel 4 News

Thankfully, the whale released Adrián seconds later, and he bobbed up to the surface, much to his father’s immense relief. Dell immediately paddled over, urging his son to stay calm. Adrián said he only became truly worried after resurfacing, fearing for his father’s safety and the risk of hypothermia.

Fortunately, both made it back to shore unharmed. Once safely out of the water, Adrián said he believed the encounter with the whale was driven by curiosity rather than malice.