Two kayakers in California, US, got the shock of their lives when they came close to being swallowed by a humpback whale.

The two women were watching whales from a distance of about 9 meters during a peaceful morning when suddenly, a whale emerged. The two women briefly ended up inside the whale¢¥s mouth while the animal was feeding in the waters off Avlia Beach.

Both kayakers left unharmed, as the whale soon opened its mouth and released them. However, they were lucky to escape serious injuries due to the strength of the whale¢¥s jaw. When the women surfaced, other kayakers and paddle boarders came to help them and they made sure that the whale had not bitten them.

Researchers are now trying to locate the animal to ensure that it was not injured during the incident, either.

Difficult words: emerge (to become visible), jaw (the upper and lower bones of the mouth that make it possible to open and close it), locate (to discover the exact place where something is).