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This is the scary moment a kayaker gets swallowed by a whirlpool.

Juanito de Ugarte was tackling the menacingly-named Butcher's Knife Rapid on the Ottawa River in Ontario, Canada, when he was sucked under the water.

The daredevil disappears for around ten seconds below the surface before reappearing - unscathed - a short distance down the river.

The dramatic footage was captured by a fellow kayaker and posted on YouTube.

One viewer wrote: "That was freaking awesome. It would have scared the crap out of me lol."

Another added: "They look bored. A whirlpool eating a friend? Whatever. Respect fellas!"

The river is said to be one of the top five white water rafting destinations in the world.

Underwater challenge: Kayaker is swallowed by river

The travelontario.co.uk tourism website says: Rapids on the Ottawa River are created from huge vertical drops and passages forged between its mid-stream islands. And they get big!

"The river's two channels offer very different experiences: The 'main channel' is the rafters' favourite with full-flowing rapids, while the 'middle channel' is favoured by kayakers. And with names such as 'Hell's Half Mile', you know it's a place to have some serious fun."

It adds: "Rafters will get all the fun they could ever hope for; running through the third major rapid you'll find your raft tackling the whirlpools of a drop pool, known menacingly as 'Butcher's Knife.'"

The Ottawa River is 1,200km long and defines Ontario's border with Quebec.

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