In an incredibly rare turn of events, 24-year-old Adrián Simancas found himself in the jaws of a humpback whale while kayaking off the coast of Chilean Patagonia. The young adventurer had been paddling through the icy waters of the Strait of Magellan on February 8th when the massive marine mammal emerged from the depths and briefly engulfed him.
“I saw dark blue and white colors before feeling a slimy texture brush against my face,” Simancas recounted to The Guardian. “I closed my eyes to brace for impact, but it was soft, like being hit by a wave.” For a few harrowing seconds, his life was in the balance as he spun inside the whale’s mouth.
A Shocking Encounter
Simancas and his father had set out to celebrate a birthday with a kayaking and trekking expedition in one of the world’s southernmost regions. About two hours into their paddle, the serene sea suddenly erupted as the humpback lunged up from behind, catching Simancas completely off guard.
“When its mouth closed around me and pulled me down, I felt like I was in a whirlpool, lying down and spinning around. If it had eaten me, I would’ve died. There was nothing I could do about it.”
Adrián Simancas
Luckily, the ordeal lasted mere moments before Simancas felt himself being pushed back to the surface by his lifejacket. Miraculously unharmed but badly shaken, he called out to his father, who had captured the unbelievable scene on his 360-degree camera.
Experts Weigh In
The viral video has ignited global intrigue and some misconceptions about whale behavior. María José Pérez Álvarez, a marine biologist at Universidad de Chile, emphasized that the gentle giants are not equipped to consume a human.
“Humpback whales have a small esophagus and feed on small prey (small fish, krill), so they could not ‘devour’ or ‘swallow’ a human. It could not have bitten him either.”
María José Pérez Álvarez, Universidad de Chile
Instead of teeth, humpbacks have baleen plates for filtering tiny prey. Álvarez noted that while Simancas avoided injury, a collision with the massive animal could have been catastrophic, underscoring the need for caution and distance.
Kayaking Best Practices
Local kayaking guides have also sounded the alarm about safety protocols in light of the incident. Guillermo Meza, owner of a kayak tour company, criticized Simancas for venturing too far from shore in an inflatable raft.
- Maintain a distance of at least 100 meters from whales, as required by Chilean law
- If whales approach, remain completely still to avoid startling them
- Use sturdy, seaworthy kayaks rather than inflatable rafts for open water
- Stay close to shore and be alert to signs of wildlife activity
For his part, Simancas asserts that the encounter was an accident and that he never saw the whale coming. He’s taking the experience as a profound lesson in preparedness and respect for the raw power of nature.
“I felt blessed with a second chance to review the mistakes that led me to be there – not just in the expedition, but in life itself.”
Adrián Simancas
While Simancas has vowed to take greater precautions in the future, he won’t be launching any expeditions for the remainder of the season. “I’ll wait until next year,” he confided. A wise choice after an all-too-close brush with one of Earth’s most majestic creatures.
