A humpback whale briefly swallowed a kayaker off the coast of Chilean Patagonia, but released him unharmed. The incident occurred in Bahía El Águila near the San Isidro Lighthouse in the Strait of Magellan on Saturday.
Adrián Simancas was kayaking with his father Dell when the whale surfaced and engulfed their kayak. Dell captured the moment on video while reassuring his son to stay calm. Adrián described the experience as “terror” but praised his father’s focus and reassurance.
The two managed to reach their kayak and return to shore without injury. The incident highlights the dangers of adventure activities in the region, where frigid waters pose a challenge for sailors, swimmers, and explorers.
Whale attacks on humans are rare in Chilean waters, but collisions with cargo ships have increased, leading to several whale deaths and strandings in recent years.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/chile-kayaking-tourism-whale-b0cafde4b640326f20a9da28003d6c26