‘I closed my eyes to brace for impact’: the man who escaped a whale’s mouth

Adrian Simancas encountered a humpback off Chile's coast - but scientists say he was never at risk of being swallowed

Adrian Simancas had been paddling for two hours in the calm but icy seas of the Strait of Magellan, off the coast of Chilean Patagonia, when something massive emerged from the water and dragged him under.

I saw dark blue and white colours before feeling a slimy texture brush against my face," the 24-year-old told the Guardian. I closed my eyes to brace for impact, but it was soft, like being hit by a wave."