Abdelrahman
A humpback whale in Chile momentarily engulfed a kayaker, only to release him unharmed. This remarkable incident was documented on video and rapidly gained widespread attention online.
In an exciting turn of events last week, Adrian Simancas was rowing alongside his father, Dell, in the Strait of Magellan when the enormous humpback whale surfaced, swallowing both Adrian and his vibrant yellow kayak.
Shortly after, the whale resurfaced and freed Simancas from its mouth.
‘I thought I had been swallowed’
“I thought I was going to die,” Adrian shared with the Associated Press. “I genuinely believed the whale had swallowed me.”
While a short distance away, Dell filmed the surprising event, offering reassurance to his son during the ordeal.
“Stay calm, stay calm,” he urged Adrian as he was freed from the whale.
Once released, Adrian expressed his fears, worried that the whale might harm his father, or that he might be lost at sea.
“When I surfaced and began floating, I was terrified something might happen to my dad, that we wouldn’t make it back to shore in time, or that I might get hypothermia,” Adrian recounted.
Ultimately, Adrian was able to reconnect with his father and both of them returned to safety without injuries.
Encounters with whales are infrequent in the Chilean waters, but chilly conditions can present challenges for kayakers, swimmers, and sailors.
Edited by: Sean M. Sinico
