When commercial lobster diver Michael Packard was scooped up off the coast of Provincetown, Massachusetts, on June 11, 2021, he became part of a rare maritime event. Years after surviving being engulfed in the mouth of a humpback whale, Packard recently shared his firsthand experiences with audiences at a Times Square screening of the survival film Whalefall, attended by actors Josh Brolin and Austin Abrams.
Although the movie is not directly based on Packard’s specific story, both real-life accounts and cinematic adaptations explore the profound fear and wonder of being trapped inside a massive sea creature. The film opened nationwide on Friday, bringing renewed attention to Packard’s ordeal.
The True Story of the Cape Cod Whale Incident
Packard had been diving for lobsters since childhood. He was on his second dive of the morning off Herring Cove Beach when something struck him like a freight train. Everything went pitch black, and water rushed around him.
He initially feared a great white shark attack, a common occurrence in Cape Cod waters. However, Packard quickly realized he felt no bite marks. Instead, he felt the intense, cavernous crush of a massive jaw. Weighing up to 40 tons and measuring up to 60 feet, humpback whales are baleen whales. They feed by using their massive mouths as fishing nets to scoop up schooling fish, krill, and plankton using keratin filter-feeding plates rather than teeth.
During the 30 to 45 seconds he was trapped inside the whale’s mouth, several events occurred:
- His scuba regulator mouthpiece was initially dislodged, but he managed to locate it behind him and shove it back in to breathe.
- He attempted to move and bang against the immovable walls of the animal’s mouth.
- He felt the whale’s enormous tongue contracting and squeezing over his body.
- Fearing he would run out of air, he thought of his sons, Jacob and Josiah, and his mother before the whale abruptly surfaced.
The animal shook its head and spat Packard out in a massive spray of water. His crewmate and captain, Joe Francis, alongside crewmate Josiah Mayo, witnessed the event. Crewmates pulled Packard back onto the boat and transported him to Cape Cod Hospital. Medical staff treated him primarily for soft tissue damage and a dislocated knee.
Connection to the Film ‘Whalefall’
The cinematic release of Whalefall taps into themes of survival, ocean isolation, and family dynamics. Directed by Brian Duffield and co-written by author Daniel Kraus, the film follows a protagonist named Jay (played by Austin Abrams). Jay gets swallowed by a sperm whale after getting tangled in giant squid tentacles off Monterey, California.
Packard’s encounter occurred in a humpback’s mouth, where science confirms whales have throats far too narrow to swallow a human whole. In contrast, the fictional character in the movie spends 60 minutes fighting to escape a whale’s stomach. He deals with extreme air pressure and hallucinations of his late father, played by Josh Brolin.
Despite the fictionalized and harrowing horror elements on screen, Packard noted strong points of connection after attending the New York screening. He recognized the claustrophobia, total powerlessness, and the overwhelming feeling of a giant animal’s contracting musculature.
A Lifetime of Extraordinary Survival
Surviving a humpback whale encounter is a once-in-a-lifetime ordeal. For Packard, however, it stands alongside other near-death experiences. At age 14, he nearly drowned after swimming after an unanchored boat. Years later, in 2001, he survived a severe plane crash in Costa Rica. The crash killed multiple people and left him stranded in the jungle for two days with severe injuries and a punctured lung.
Today, Packard continues working as a commercial diver in Massachusetts. He maintains his deep-rooted connection to the ocean despite his family’s concerns. By sharing his story through documentaries like In The Whale and public appearances, he offers audiences a glimpse into the unpredictable power of nature.
Frequently Asked Questions About Michael Packard
Was Michael Packard actually swallowed by a whale?
No. While widely described as being “swallowed,” Packard clarifies that he was trapped inside the closed mouth of a humpback whale for roughly 30 to 40 seconds before being spat out. Marine experts note that humpback whales have throats too narrow to swallow a human.
How did Michael Packard escape the whale?
While trapped in total darkness, Packard kept his scuba regulator in place to breathe. The whale grew disoriented, swam to the surface, and began shaking its head violently. This action ejected Packard back into the open ocean, where his crewmates rescued him.
What injuries did Michael Packard sustain?
Packard emerged with relatively minor injuries, primarily severe soft tissue damage and a dislocated knee. Medical staff treated him at Cape Cod Hospital and discharged him shortly after.
Is the movie ‘Whalefall’ based on Michael Packard’s story?
No. The film Whalefall adapts a survival novel inspired by a separate 2020 incident involving a kayaker. However, the film explores parallel themes of human survival inside a marine mammal.
What other near-death experiences has Michael Packard survived?
Before his whale encounter, Packard survived a near-drowning incident at age 14. He also survived a major plane crash in Costa Rica in 2001, remaining stranded with severe injuries in the jungle for two days.
