A kayaker in Chilean Patagonia was briefly swallowed by a humpback whale before being released unharmed, with the incredible moment caught on camera.

A remarkable encounter off the coast of Chile’s Patagonia saw a kayaker briefly swallowed by a humpback whale before being quickly released, unharmed.

The unbelievable moment was caught on camera by the kayaker’s father, and has since gone viral, leaving the world in awe of nature’s unpredictability.

The dramatic event took place last Saturday in Bahía El Águila, close to the San Isidro Lighthouse in the Strait of Magellan. Adrián Simancas, along with his father Dell, was kayaking through the cold waters of the Strait when the immense humpback whale surfaced.

In a moment that would cause terror for anyone, the whale engulfed Adrián and his yellow kayak, trapping him in its mouth for several seconds before releasing him back into the water.

Dell, just a few meters away, captured the harrowing moment on video. As his son was trapped, he could be heard calmly urging him to stay calm. “Stay calm, stay calm,” he repeated, trying to reassure Adrián in a moment of unimaginable fear.

Adrián, on the other hand, described his initial thought as a death sentence. “I thought I was dead,” he later said. “I thought it had eaten me, that it had swallowed me.”

For those terrifying few seconds, Adrián was overwhelmed by fear, but his anxiety heightened even more when he surfaced and saw the mammoth creature disappearing beneath the waves.

His primary concern at that moment was the safety of his father, who was still near him in the water.

“I was scared that something might happen to my father too, that we wouldn’t reach the shore in time, or that I would get hypothermia,” Adrián explained, recalling the icy water temperatures.

Despite the chaos of the moment, Dell managed to stay focused, capturing the event on film while maintaining his calm demeanor. It was only after Adrián was safely released and floating back toward his father’s kayak that the full impact of the event began to set in.

The incident occurred in one of the most remote and chilly regions of Chile, where temperatures even in the Southern Hemisphere summer rarely exceed 68°F (20°C), and often dip below 39°F (4°C).

The Strait of Magellan, located about 1,600 miles south of Santiago, has long been a haven for adventure-seekers.

Known for its rough waters and unpredictable conditions, it also attracts tourists who engage in kayaking, sailing, and wildlife viewing.

For sailors and adventurers, however, the frigid waters are notoriously difficult to navigate, adding a layer of risk to an already treacherous location.

Though rare, whale encounters like this one do occasionally happen in the region. The humpback whale population is abundant in Chile’s waters, particularly during the feeding season, but interactions with humans are infrequent.

These creatures, which can weigh up to 40 tons and grow up to 50 feet long, are known for their graceful movements and majestic presence in the oceans.

However, there are no recorded incidents of whale attacks on humans, as whales do not typically view humans as prey.

In recent years, however, the population of these majestic creatures has faced its own challenges. Whale deaths due to collisions with cargo ships have become an increasing concern, especially in busy waterways like the Strait of Magellan.

Additionally, beachings and strandings have also grown in frequency, which is a disturbing trend for marine biologists and environmentalists.

As for Adrián and his father, the frightening encounter left them shaken but unharmed. The experience is now etched into their memories, a story they will no doubt share with others for years to come.

Despite the terrifying nature of the event, both men returned to shore safely and without injury.

Adrián, in particular, remains amazed by the power and size of the whale that briefly consumed him. “I didn’t think anything like this could happen,” he remarked.

Although the experience may have been traumatic in the moment, both father and son walked away with a renewed respect for the natural world and its immense creatures.

For Adrián, the terrifying seconds trapped inside the whale’s mouth have become a defining moment in his life, one that he will not soon forget.

While this encounter is extraordinary, it serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of wildlife and the need for human beings to respect and tread carefully in their habitats.

The thrill of exploring nature comes with its risks, but it is this awe-inspiring unpredictability that attracts people from around the world to remote and wild places like the Strait of Magellan, where nature remains unrestrained and full of surprises.