An 18-year-old high school graduate from Louisiana went on a graduation trip cruise in the Bahamas and was lost at sea after jumping overboard on May 24. The teen graduate was aboard the Blackbeard's Revenge sunset cruise ship with his peers near Athol Island, northeast of Nassau, and witnesses reportedly say he jumped off around 11:30 p.m. the ship because of a dare, according to WAFB. The US Coast Guard conducted a 325-square-mile search for Cameron Robbins for two days before calling off the search on Friday, per the Daily Mail.
A troubling video shows the panic that ensued after Robbins jumped overboard in only swim shorts with no life jacket while his fellow graduates can be heard yelling. A buoy was thrown to him, but he drifted away in the other direction and disappeared into the ocean, the Daily Mail reported.
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The 18-year-old had just graduated high school days before the excursion.
Robbins had graduated from University Lab School in Baton Rouge, which he had attended for 13 years, just days before the trip, according to WAFB. It appeared that Robbins had even posted on his Instagram sharing photos from his graduation prior to boarding the cruise a week ago. Students from several local Baton Rouge high schools were also aboard the ship besides U-High, such as St. Joseph’s Academy, Catholic, and Episcopal, the news outlet reported.
Robbins was a star baseball athlete at his school. His former baseball coach at U-High, Justin Morgan, released a statement following the heartbreaking news, WAFB reported: “Cameron is a kid who is truly loved by his teammates, teachers, and fellow classmates. He is a fierce competitor on the baseball field. He is a hard worker both on and off of the playing field. Our school community is struggling right now but hoping for the very best. Our thoughts and prayers have been and will remain with the Robbins family during this difficult time.”
Multiple search and rescue organizations tried to locate the teen before the search ended two days later.
The haunting video footage showed Robbins after he jumped overboard, allegedly because he was dared to do so, and his peers and witnesses could be heard panicking in the background. He appeared to be swimming beside the boat for a short while, and a buoy was seen tossed in the water, but it appeared the current may have been too strong and pulled him away or he was pulled under by something else.
The Coast Guard collaborated with the Royal Bahamas Defense Force to search for Robbins, but the search was called off on Friday, per WAFB. The following statement was released on Twitter after the incident by Lt. Cmdr. John Beal, the Seventh Coast Guard District public affairs officer:
“U.S. Coast Guard District Seven deployed multiple search and rescue assets in response to an agency assistance request from our partners in the Royal Bahamas Defense Force. Our Coast Guard command center and aircrews based in Miami supported RBDF SAR efforts since the initial report late Wednesday evening, and continued through Friday evening. We were informed by the RBDF this evening that they were suspending the active search efforts pending further developments, and were not requesting further Coast Guard assistance after notifying the Robbins family. We offer our sincerest condolences to Cameron Robbins’ family and friends.”
‘We must come together and support each other’, the teen's high school noted in a statement following the tragedy.
University Lab School Director Kevin George offered words of support to the teen's family while the search was still on.
“The University Lab School Community is praying for the best possible outcome of this situation. I have been in touch with Cameron’s family and at this time, authorities are still searching for him in the Bahamas," he noted at the time via WFAB. "In times like these, we must come together and support each other. Words fall short of expressing the worry our entire school community is feeling.”
Additionally, George explained that counseling would be offered to students to help them through the difficult news. “Extra counselors will be available on campus to speak with students and faculty who are struggling to process this news. Our thoughts are with the Robbins family, and we ask that you keep them in your thoughts as well,” he said, the news outlet reported.
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The local community is supporting the teen's family through this devastating situation.
The Robbins family released a statement after the search for their son ended.
“The Bahamas government has called off the rescue for Cameron and we are returning to Baton Rouge. We want to thank the Bahamas government, the U.S. Coast Guard, the United Cajun Navy, and Congressman Garrett Graves for everything they have done for us," the statement reads, according to WAFB. "In this time of grief we thank our family, friends, and well wishers for granting us the privacy we need to properly remember our son and mourn his loss.”
A GoFundMe account was created to support the family. So far, more than $12,500 has been raised, exceeding the initial goal of $10,000. As organizer Daniel Eiklor wrote, “Cameron went missing during a boating excursion in the Bahamas directly following his high school graduation from University High in Baton Rouge, LA. This fundraiser is to support the Robbins family for anything they may need during this time.”
The message continued, “Cameron's mother, Shari is an indescribably amazing teacher and her kindness and devotion has helped countless children throughout her career. Please donate as you can and share this fundraiser to support her and her family through this unimaginable situation.”
