A kayaker was briefly swallowed by a humpback whale in Chile’s southernmost Patagonia region last Saturday. The terrifying moment was captured on camera by the kayaker’s father, who recorded his son being gulped into the whale and then spat out two seconds later.
The 24-year-old kayaker, Adrian Simancas, described feeling like he was being pulled underwater before his life vest kicked in, pulling him back up to the surface. His father, Dell, said he heard a strong wave hitting behind him and saw his son suddenly appear at the surface with their pack raft.
Wildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta explained that humpback whales were likely lunge-feeding on krill or fish at the time, and Adrian happened to be in the way. She emphasized that these animals are not targeting human-sized prey due to their narrow esophagus and lack of teeth.
The incident highlights the risks faced by tourists engaging in activities like kayaking with dolphins and humpback whales in popular destinations like the Strait of Magellan.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/13/americas/chile-humpback-whale-kayaker-intl-latam/index.html