‘I Felt a Slimy Texture’: Man Swallowed by Whale & Spat Back Out
A Venezuelan kayaker had a once-in-a-lifetime experience when he was briefly swallowed by a humpback whale before being spat back into the ocean.
📍 Location: Strait of Magellan, off Chile’s Patagonian coast
🎥 Captured on Video: The incredible moment was recorded by his father
‘I Realised I Was Inside the Mouth of Something’
Adrián Simancas, 23, was kayaking with his father, Dall Simancas, 49, when he suddenly felt something hit him from behind.
Within seconds, he was inside the whale’s mouth.
🗨 “I spent a second realizing I was inside something. Maybe it had eaten me—maybe it was an orca or a sea monster.”
Adrián compared his thoughts to a real-life Pinocchio moment, wondering how he might survive inside the massive creature.
Slimy Darkness & The Moment of Panic
Adrián described the surreal experience inside the whale:
✔️ “I felt a slimy texture brush my face.”
✔️ “All I could see was dark blue and white.”
✔️ “I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, I realised I was inside the whale’s mouth.”
For a few terrifying moments, he was unsure if he would ever escape.
🔹 “I had to think about what to do next.”
🔹 “I wondered if it had swallowed me completely since I could no longer fight to stop it.”
But just as quickly as it had engulfed him, the whale spat him back out.
Father’s Shock: ‘I Turned Around and He Was Gone’
Adrián’s father, Dall Simancas, was just a few meters away in a separate kayak.
🎥 His GoPro camera, mounted on the back of his kayak, captured the incredible moment.
🗨 “We had just crossed Eagle Bay when I heard a loud crash behind me. When I turned around, I didn’t see Adrián.”
For a brief, terrifying moment, he feared the worst.
🗨 “Then I saw something— a massive body. I immediately realized it was a whale.”
Dall watched in disbelief as his son emerged from the water, seemingly unharmed.
‘A Second Chance at Life’
Once he resurfaced, Adrián had an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
🗨 “I felt like I was given a second chance at life.”
The incident left him reflecting on his own life choices and how he could make the most of every moment.
Why Didn’t the Whale Swallow Him?
Although being engulfed by a whale is terrifying, wildlife experts say it’s physically impossible for a humpback whale to swallow a human.
Expert Explanation: Humpback Whales Have Small Throats
🐋 Humpback whales have throats the size of a household pipe—only big enough for small fish and shrimp.
🗨 “They physically cannot swallow large objects like kayaks or even big fish like tuna,” explains Brazilian conservationist Roched Jacobson Seba.
A Case of Mistaken Identity?
Experts believe the whale was feeding on a school of fish when it accidentally scooped up the kayak along with its meal.
🗨 “When whales surface too quickly while feeding, they sometimes accidentally hit or engulf objects in their path.”
How to Avoid a Close Encounter with a Whale
🚤 Boats used for whale watching must always keep their engines on— the sound helps whales detect their presence.
🚫 Avoid paddleboards, surfboards, or silent vessels in areas where whales are feeding.
🗨 “This encounter is an important reminder to respect whale habitats and avoid unnecessary risks,” warns Seba.
External Source:BBC Coverage
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