Michael Packard, 56, a commercial lobster diver from Cape Cod, has the most incredible story to share. Believe it or not, this man was scooped up by a huge humpback whale and then spat just less than a minute later.
As he was minding his own business in the water, Packard suddenly found himself surrounded with complete darkness. His initial thought was that he got attacked by a shark, which are common in this area waters, but he realized there were no sharp teeth around.
NEARLY EATEN BY WHALE: Michael Packard just told us his incredible story. He says he was nearly swallowed by a humpback whale while lobster diving off the coast of Provincetown this morning. #NBC10Boston #NECN pic.twitter.com/9IE126H5rY
— Mike Manzoni NBC10 Boston (@MikeNBCBoston) June 11, 2021
“All of a sudden, I felt this huge shove and the next thing I knew it was completely black,” Packard told the Cape Cod Times.
“I could sense I was moving, and I could feel the whale squeezing with the muscles in his mouth.”
Speaking to WBZ-TV, Packard said that he was certain he was going to die and it looked like there was no way out from that terrifying situation. Luckily, it all turned out for the best when the giant creature decided to spit him out. “I saw light, and he started throwing his head side-to-side and the next thing I knew I was outside [in the water],” the lucky man explained. “My first thought was I can’t believe I got out of that situation. My second thought was for how injured I was.”
“I thought to myself OK, this is it – I’m finally – I’m gonna die,” After about 30 seconds, the whale surfaced and spit Michael Packard out. https://t.co/UzwYSBf54t
— ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) June 13, 2021
Packard was only able to survive inside the ocean mammal’s gut because he still had his his breathing apparatus on.
Luckily, he didn’t survive any serious injuries besides a dislocated knee and some soft tissue damage. Packard was discharged from the hospital in the afternoon and he could go home to his family and his two boys who can now proudly say that their dad is one of the luckiest people alive.