Watch the man who was nearly swallowed by a Bryde’s Whale
[rumble video_id=v4mvxl domain_id=u7nb2]
51-year-old Rainer Schimpf was nearly swallowed by a Bryde’s Whale.
Rainer and his team set off to document a sardine run in February. The sardine run is a seasonal movement of fish, gannets, penguins, seals, dolphins, whales and sharks along the Eastern Cape coastline to the South Coast of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
Rainer, who worked as a dive tour operator in South Africa for over 15 years, and his team filmed the journey for educational and environmental purposes.
Then something strange happened that left everyone stunned.
Rainer told Barcroft TV: “I was trying to get a shot of a shark going through the bait ball and then the next moment it got dark and I felt some pressure when I instantly knew, a whale had grabbed me.”
Rainer’s colleague, photographer Heinz Toperczer knew something was about to happen so he continued to film the scene.
Heinz said: “Suddenly, dolphins shot out of the water, a white spray came out and then a whale appeared and grabbed him!”
Heinz filmed the moment Rainer was inside the whale’s mouth.
Rainer was trying hard to survive. He held his breath because he thought he is going to dive down and release him much deeper in the ocean.
But then, the 55ft and 30 tonnes Bryde’s Whale pushed him out of its mouth. Fortunately, he survived.
Rainer said: “Whales are no man-eaters – so this was really an accident, they are gentle giants. Once I got on the boat, I looked at Heinz and asked if he got it. I knew this was a very special moment.”
“I’ve never experienced any situation like that. It gives me a connection to the whale which I don’t think anyone else has had. It happened extremely fast,” he added.
“I don’t think I had a ‘whale’ of a time, but I have the inside knowledge of what a whale is like. It was an interesting experience, but certainly nothing I want to do again.”