A recent video featuring a father-son kayaking adventure off the coast of Chile has gained widespread attention, appearing to show a humpback whale momentarily engulfing one of them.
Adrián Simancas was kayaking in the Strait of Magellan in southern Chile when a massive whale surfaced unexpectedly, briefly taking him into its mouth, according to reports from the Associated Press.
''I thought it had already eaten and swallowed me,'' the 24-year-old recounted to the AP. ''At first, when I thought I had died, it was of course a lot of terror, because I thought, no, no, there was nothing I could do.''
His father, Dell, was filming the outing from a distance when he caught the astonishing moment on camera. Speaking with CNN en Español, he said he had initially started recording the waves because they seemed particularly striking—only to discover something far more extraordinary beneath the surface.
Simancas described the intense sensation of being struck from behind and lifted upward.
''When I turned around, I felt a slimy texture on my face,'' he told CNN. ''I could see colors like dark blue and white approaching me from behind, closing around me and pulling me under.''
Dell’s footage, later shared by the AP, captures the whale breaching the surface before submerging again with Simancas and his yellow inflatable kayak. Moments later, both the kayak and Simancas reappeared on the surface. Relief was short-lived, however, as fear quickly set in—he worried about his father’s safety and the risk of hypothermia from the cold water.
Summoning his strength, Simancas grabbed onto the kayak and paddled toward his father, who helped him to safety. Reflecting on the experience, he believed the whale had no intention of harming him.
''When I got out, I understood that of course, it was probably out of curiosity that the whale had approached me, or maybe to communicate something,'' he said.
Experts Offer a Scientific Perspective
Marine specialists propose a different explanation. Two whale researchers told NPR that the event likely resulted from Simancas inadvertently being in the feeding path of a humpback whale—an animal that primarily consumes krill and small fish, not humans.
''My guess is that the whale was just as surprised as the kayaker,'' stated Dr. Jooke Robbins, director of the Humpback Whale Studies Program at the Center for Coastal Studies in Massachusetts.
Humpback whales utilize a feeding strategy known as lunging, where they propel themselves through dense fish schools with their mouths wide open before filtering the water through their baleen plates. If a human happens to be in their trajectory, they may be ''unintentionally (and just momentarily) engulfed,'' Robbins explained.
Dr. Iain Kerr, CEO of the Ocean Alliance conservation group, added that such encounters are extremely rare.
''I'm sure it closes its eyes so it doesn't get damaged by anything, and I think this is one of those one-in-a-million situations where the fellow seemed to be at the wrong place at the wrong time,'' Kerr said.
Similar incidents have been documented, including a 2021 account of a Massachusetts lobster diver who claimed a humpback whale had temporarily swallowed and then expelled him.
A humpback whale briefly swallows kayaker in Chilean Patagonia — and it's all captured on camera https://t.co/VA2rTiPGIu
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 14, 2025
Why Whales Can't Actually Swallow Humans
Despite their enormous mouths—some reaching widths of up to 10 feet—whales are physically incapable of swallowing a human due to their small throat size, which is roughly equivalent to a human fist.
Kerr emphasized that humpback whales have no interest in consuming humans and would actively avoid it, as attempting to ingest something so large could cause serious jaw injuries.
''They have no interest in eating us, hurting us,'' he said. ''It's not to their benefit. Many of these animals are living this life of energy balance—what energy does it take for me to catch my prey, et cetera.''
Maintaining a Safe Distance
Experts advise people to keep a safe distance from whales whenever they are in their natural habitat. In the U.S., federal law mandates staying at least 100 yards away from these marine mammals for the well-being of both humans and whales.
Although some whale populations are recovering, Kerr noted that others remain at risk due to threats such as ship collisions, entanglement in fishing lines, and ocean pollution. While Simancas’ experience has captivated global audiences, Kerr believes this newfound attention should translate into tangible efforts to protect marine life.
''The reality is the oceans are downhill from everything and gravity never sleeps,'' he stated. ''I tend to say healthy whales, healthy oceans, healthy humans. So even if you don't like whales, there's still value in understanding what's going on in our oceans, and whales are barometers of ocean health.''
Kerr hopes that this viral moment will inspire greater public interest in marine conservation, whether through education about various whale species or support for environmental organizations.
''The more you love something, the more you want to keep it, or keep it healthy,'' he concluded.
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