It was a dramatic and unbelievable moment that unfolded on the waters off Punta Arenas, Chile.

A young kayaker, Adrian Simancas, was out on an adventure with his father, Dell, when the unthinkable happened.

Adrian was seemingly swallowed whole by a humpback whale before emerging moments later, unscathed.

This astonishing event, captured on video, quickly went viral and left everyone wondering: How did he survive this?

The Jaw-Dropping Moment

As father and son kayaked in the choppy waters of the Straits of Magellan, a humpback whale breached the surface out of nowhere.

Before anyone could react, the enormous whale opened its mouth and appeared to gulp down the 24-year-old and his inflatable kayak.

For a split second, the video shows Adrian disappearing into the whale’s mouth, and his father, horrified, shouted instructions to stay calm and hold onto the kayak.

Then, to everyone’s disbelief, Adrian reappeared seconds later, unharmed.

Adrian recalled the terrifying experience in an interview with Chilean TV, saying, “I saw something blue and white pass by me, but I didn’t understand what was happening.

Then, I sank. I thought I had been eaten by the whale.”

Despite the panic, he was perfectly fine and didn’t need any medical attention afterward.

The Viral Video and Skepticism

As the video spread rapidly online, many viewers were skeptical.

Some suggested that the footage might have been edited or digitally altered.

Social media users pointed out how the kayak seemed to disappear and reappear abruptly in the footage, leading them to believe the video might have been manipulated.

However, Adrian’s father, Dell, who was filming the event, recalled the terrifying moment when he could no longer see his son for a brief few seconds.

“That was the real panic,” Dell explained. “He was gone for about three seconds, and then he shot out from the whale.”

The Unlikely Odds of Being Swallowed by a Whale

Experts weighed in on the rarity of such an event, explaining how the odds of being swallowed by a whale are about one in a trillion.

This situation was reminiscent of a similar incident in 2021 when a lobster diver, Michael Packard, was swallowed by a humpback whale off the coast of Massachusetts.

Packard, who spent about 40 seconds inside the whale’s mouth, described the moment as surreal.

He first thought he had been attacked by a great white shark, only to realize he was inside a whale.

Fortunately, he was spit out, left with only a dislocated knee.

Humpback whales are massive creatures, growing up to 50 feet in length and weighing about 36 tons.

They mostly feed on krill and small fish by using bubbles to trap their prey.

Although incidents involving humpback whales and humans are incredibly rare, experts suggest that when these whales feed, their mouths can open in a way that impairs their vision, making such an event an accident rather than an attack.

Father and Son’s Plan to Keep Kayaking

Dell, a Venezuelan-born anaesthetist who lives in Chile, was thankfully unharmed in the incident.

Despite the close call, both he and Adrian remain determined to continue kayaking, though they plan to be more cautious in the future.

Dell added that the unexpected encounter with the whale hasn’t deterred their love for adventure, and they’re already planning their next kayaking trip—just with a bit more preparation this time around.

This unforgettable event has sparked widespread discussions about the power of nature and the near-impossible chances of surviving such a bizarre encounter.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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