Kayaker Survives Being Briefly Swallowed by Humpback Whale in Chile

Adrián Simancas was kayaking in the Strait of Magellan when a humpback whale engulfed him and his kayak before releasing him unharmed.

The incident occurred on February 8, 2025, near the San Isidro Lighthouse in Chile's Strait of Magellan, a region known for its frigid waters and diverse marine life.
Adrián Simancas, 24, was kayaking with his father, Dell, when a humpback whale surfaced and briefly swallowed him and his inflatable kayak before spitting him out.
Simancas described the experience as terrifying, initially believing he had been attacked by an orca, but later realized the whale likely mistook him for prey while surface feeding.
The encounter was captured on video by Dell, who remained calm and instructed his son to stay composed as he resurfaced and swam to safety.
Marine experts clarified that humpback whales cannot swallow humans due to their narrow throats and suggested the incident was an accidental result of the whale's lunge-feeding behavior.