Adrián Simancas, a 23-year-old kayaker, had a terrifying brush with nature when he was engulfed by a humpback whale while paddling through the Strait of Magellan off Chile's coast. The Venezuelan national recounted the surreal moment he felt the whale's slimy mouth against his face before being spat back out. "I spent a second realising I was inside the mouth of something," Simancas told BBC Mundo, revealing his amusing yet frightening thoughts about surviving like the character Pinocchio.
The harrowing incident was captured on video by his father, Dall Simancas, who witnessed the extraordinary encounter unfold from a nearby kayak. When the whale collided with his son, Adrián instinctively closed his eyes only to later find himself surrounded by darkness. He described feeling panic set in as he feared the creature would swallow him whole. "I wondered what I could do if it had swallowed me since I could no longer fight,” he reflected.
Fortunately for Adrián, the experience was brief. He quickly felt buoyancy and surfaced after what felt like a lengthy submersion. "I was a little afraid of whether I would be able to hold my breath," he shared, expressing relief when he finally emerged alive. Dall, captured both the anomaly and his son's remarkable escape on his camera, later expressing disbelief upon seeing the footage of the enormous whale that had brushed against Adrián.
Wildlife expert Roched Jacobson Seba clarified why Adrián survived the encounter. He explained that humpback whales have narrow throats incapable of swallowing large objects, including humans or kayaks. The whale likely engulfed Adrián by mistake while feeding on fish, revealing the necessity of awareness around these creatures. He urged caution for those using kayaks or paddleboards in whale-populated waters, advising that ensuring a noise presence can help avoid such dangerous mishaps.
Reflecting on the incident, Adrián expressed the profound impact it had on him. He saw it as a "second chance" to appreciate life more fully. The encounter, though terrifying, encouraged him to view his experiences differently and consider the lessons learned from such an extraordinary moment in one of the world's most remote locations.
The harrowing incident was captured on video by his father, Dall Simancas, who witnessed the extraordinary encounter unfold from a nearby kayak. When the whale collided with his son, Adrián instinctively closed his eyes only to later find himself surrounded by darkness. He described feeling panic set in as he feared the creature would swallow him whole. "I wondered what I could do if it had swallowed me since I could no longer fight,” he reflected.
Fortunately for Adrián, the experience was brief. He quickly felt buoyancy and surfaced after what felt like a lengthy submersion. "I was a little afraid of whether I would be able to hold my breath," he shared, expressing relief when he finally emerged alive. Dall, captured both the anomaly and his son's remarkable escape on his camera, later expressing disbelief upon seeing the footage of the enormous whale that had brushed against Adrián.
Wildlife expert Roched Jacobson Seba clarified why Adrián survived the encounter. He explained that humpback whales have narrow throats incapable of swallowing large objects, including humans or kayaks. The whale likely engulfed Adrián by mistake while feeding on fish, revealing the necessity of awareness around these creatures. He urged caution for those using kayaks or paddleboards in whale-populated waters, advising that ensuring a noise presence can help avoid such dangerous mishaps.
Reflecting on the incident, Adrián expressed the profound impact it had on him. He saw it as a "second chance" to appreciate life more fully. The encounter, though terrifying, encouraged him to view his experiences differently and consider the lessons learned from such an extraordinary moment in one of the world's most remote locations.
