A kayaker in Chile was briefly swallowed by a humpback whale, describing the terrifying moment he thought he had "been eaten" before the whale spat him back out.
On Wednesday, Adrián Simancas Jaimes, a 24-year-old computer technician, was kayaking with his father, Meydell, in the southern bay of Punta Arenas when the unexpected encounter occurred, El Pais reported.
Humpback whales, which can reach up to 48 tons and over 60 feet in length, typically feed on plankton and small fish, making human encounters of this nature extremely rare.
Around 3:00 p.m., Adrián felt a sudden impact from behind, knocking him off his inflatable kayak and into the whale's mouth.
Surrounded by darkness and a strange suction force, he was trapped for a few seconds before being expelled back into the ocean. His father, an experienced kayaker and anesthesiologist, recorded the incident and guided Adrián safely back to shore.
The video quickly went viral, stunning viewers worldwide.
Adrián emerged unharmed but was initially paralyzed with fear, unsure of what had happened. He later said that once his father reached him, he knew he would be safe.
Despite the harrowing experience, he remains passionate about outdoor activities and plans to return to kayaking.
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