Paddling through choppy waters under cloudy skies, Adrián Simancas and his father were packrafting in Chilean Patagonia when a humpback whale unexpectedly lunged from the waves, appearing to engulf Mr. Simancas. Following the encounter, he resurfaced along with his kayak-sized vessel, while the whale briefly emerged before disappearing beneath the surface.
In an interview, Mr. Simancas described the experience, stating, “I felt something hit me from behind... something dark blue or white enveloped me, and a slimy texture brushed my face.” He recounted closing his eyes, expecting an impact, but instead felt surrounded by water, realizing he was in the whale's mouth. Moments later, he was pulled to the surface by his life jacket.
Mr. Simancas, 23, and his father, Dell, 49, had been on a planned four-day rafting trip near the San Isidro Lighthouse and Bahía El Águila. Dell Simancas noted that he had turned on his camera to record the waves when he heard a loud sound and lost sight of his son. He expressed fear as his son disappeared but maintained composure, advising him to stay calm.
Despite Mr. Simancas’s description of being “swallowed,” scientists clarify that humpback whales are filter feeders and cannot consume anything as large as a person. Jooke Robbins, director of the Humpback Whale Studies Program, suggested the encounter was likely an accident, with the whale being just as surprised as the rafter.
Chile’s Ministry of the Environment deemed the incident “very unusual” and urged the public to maintain a safe distance from marine life to avoid accidents. The country’s fisheries service, Sernapesca, echoed this sentiment, warning of potential fines for those who violate regulations regarding proximity to whales.
While Mr. Simancas’s experience is rare, it is not unprecedented. Previous incidents include a lobsterman caught in a humpback’s mouth in Massachusetts and a kayak being lifted by a breaching humpback in California.
Experts noted that humpbacks often feed by charging to the surface with their mouths open, likely unaware of the kayaker above, particularly in cloudy conditions. Adrián Simancas, who had never encountered a whale before, expressed no resentment about the incident, stating, “If it happens again, I hope it isn’t quite so close up.”