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14 Feb, 14:28

Kayaker in Chile swallowed by humpback whale, escapes with life

Adrian Simankas found himself in the water and tried to climb into the overturned boat, but the whale continued to follow him, nudging the kayak so that he could not get back in

BUENOS AIRES, February 14. /TASS/. A humpback whale swallowed a 24-year-old man kayaking in Chile, boat and all, but moments later spat the tourist out, Chilean newspaper La Tercera reported.

The incident occurred in the Strait of Magellan, near the city of Punta Arenas in southern Chile. Footage published by the outlet shows Venezuelan tourist Adrian Simancas being suddenly swallowed by a whale whose mouth was several times larger than the boat. The whale attempted to roll onto its back but, upon realizing that it had swallowed the man, quickly spat him out.

Simankas found himself in the water and tried to climb into the overturned boat, but the whale continued to follow him, nudging the kayak so that he could not get back in. At one point, the boat even ended up on the animal's back, and as Simankas clung to the kayak, he was involuntarily carried toward the shore along with the whale. When the animal submerged, Simankas's father, who had been filming the incident, approached him and provided the necessary assistance.