In an encounter straight out of the story of Jonah, a Chilean kayaker lived through a near-mythical experience, being swallowed and spat out by a humpback whale.
The breathtaking moment unfolded in the icy waters of Patagonia’s Strait of Magellan, where 24-year-old Adrian Simancas was on a kayaking adventure with his father.
As they paddled through the vast ocean, a humpback whale emerged from the depths, engulfing Adrian before releasing him moments later.
Captured on video by his father, Dell Simancas, the heart-stopping footage shows the sea creature surfacing dramatically before momentarily swallowing Adrian.
In the chaos, Dell can be heard shouting, “Grab the boat!” as his son, now free from the whale’s grasp, swims towards him.
Describing the experience to CNN en Español, Adrian recalled the surreal sensation of being inside the whale.
“I felt something slimy against my face, saw deep blue and white colours surrounding me, and then everything closed in. I sank. At that moment, I thought I was going to die,” he recounted.
Luckily, his life vest kept him afloat, and within seconds, he surfaced, gasping for breath and realising what had just happened.
Dell, who had been admiring the ocean’s “pretty waves,” had no idea he was about to witness a moment of pure wildlife unpredictability.
“I suddenly heard a loud splash behind me. When I turned, Adrian was gone. His kayak was gone. My heart stopped. Then, three seconds later, I saw him shoot back up to the surface, followed by his raft,” he said.
Marine scientist Vanessa Pirotta explained that the whale was likely lunge-feeding on krill or fish and accidentally caught Adrian in its path.
“These animals are not out to eat humans. They don’t have the anatomy to swallow a person, as their throats are too narrow,” she clarified.