Real Lobster Diver Was Nearly Swallowed by a Whale, Like in Whalefall
Michael Packard spent around 30 to 40 seconds trapped in a whale's mouth off Provincetown, Massachusetts.
After seeing the movie Whalefall, I had to find out if someone had ever been swallowed by a whale. And someone actually almost was.
Whalefall is a fictional story adapted from a novel, but a real-life lobster diver named Michael Packard almost became the first person in human history to be swallowed by a whale.
In June 2021, the commercial lobster diver was engulfed by a whale off the coast of Provincetown, Massachusetts. Packard said he was trapped in the whale's mouth for around 30 to 40 seconds, but luckily the mammal surfaced and spit him out. Although it was traumatizing for him, he only suffered a few minor bruises.
It turns out it would have been almost impossible for him to get swallowed, as humpback whales only have a throat the size of a fist.
Had you heard about Michael Packard's encounter before?
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Adapted with AI from Movie Facts Pro's video of 19 October 2026 and reviewed by Digital Fox Talent before publication. Editorial standards · Corrections
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