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US man gets swallowed alive by whale, survives in the end

The incident of humpback whale swallowing and then spitting out the diver took place in Cape Cod in Massachusetts, USA.

Published on: Jun 12, 2021, 16:07:21 IST
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A lobster diver was swallowed whole by a humpback whale. Thankfully, the 56-year-old man named Michael Packard lives to tell the tale after the mammal spat him back out. The incident took place in Cape Cod in Massachusetts, USA.

The humpback whale spat out the man about 40 seconds after swallowing him (representational image). (Unsplash)
The humpback whale spat out the man about 40 seconds after swallowing him (representational image). (Unsplash)

Packard took to Facebook to share his story on a page called Provincetown Community Space. “Hi everyone, I just want to clarify what happened to me today. I was lobster diving and a humpback whale tried to eat me. I was in his closed mouth for about 30 to 40 seconds before he rose to the surface and spit me out. I am very bruised up but have no broken bones. I want to thank the Provincetown rescue squad for their caring and help,” his Facebook post reads.

Humback whale swallowed lobster diver Michael Packard before spitting him out. (Facebook/Michael Packàrd)
Humback whale swallowed lobster diver Michael Packard before spitting him out. (Facebook/Michael Packàrd)

“All of a sudden, I felt this huge shove and the next thing I knew it was completely black,” Packard told Cape Cod Times after being released from Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, where he was treated for the injuries he suffered.

“I could sense I was moving, and I could feel the whale squeezing with the muscles in his mouth,” he added. “I was completely inside; it was completely black,” Packard further told to Cape Cod Times. “I thought to myself, ‘there’s no way I’m getting out of here. I’m done, I’m dead.’ All I could think of was my boys — they’re 12 and 15 years old.”

While inside the whale, he began struggling and after some time the whale started shaking its head before spitting him out, reports Cape Cod Times. He was inside the whale for about 40 seconds.

  • Trisha Sengupta
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    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More

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