The family of recent high school graduate Cameron Robbins, 18, who went overboard while on a Bahamas cruise ship at the end of May, have visited the place he was last seen. The Robbins family worked with a US representative to expedite emergency travel to the Bahamas, where their son Cameron was last seen, according to the search and rescue nonprofit United Cajun Navy. Cameron had just graduated from University Laboratory High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a few days prior to the celebratory graduation cruise. He allegedly jumped overboard on a dare, and shortly after, haunting videos circulated showing the teen in dark waters, near a blurry shape that some have speculated could have been a shark.
The search for Cameron was called off two days later, and a memorial service has been planned for the teen on Sunday, June 4. The family is asking for donations to be made to Christian Homes and Family Services, an adoption agency, in honor of Cameron being adopted into their family.
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The Robbins family visited the last place their teen son was seen.
Cameron Robbins' parents, Shari and Will Robbins, worked with their local US representative from Louisiana, Garrett Graves, to coordinate their emergency travel to the Bahamas, per the Daily Mail. United Cajun Navy Vice President Brian Trascher said, “It took a lot of strength for them to go out there and stay for a few days. When we offered to take them out in a boat to the area where he went overboard and some of the area they were searching they went,” the outlet reported.
Trascher added that when nothing was found, they had to call off the search. “I know it had to be very emotional for them, but they went and by Sunday they decided they wanted to go home. Had they found a piece of clothing or any kind of clue, that would cause them to extend that 48-hour period, but if they don't get any kind of indication then that's usually when they call it off,” he said.
Though it was a difficult decision to make, the search was called off after a couple of days, and there were various contributing factors.
Royal Bahamas Defence Force Commodore Raymond King noted that the area where Robbins went overboard was “really shark infested," per the New York Post. This statement, coupled with footage from videos circulating on social media, has led many to believe the teen may have been trying to swim away from a shark. It was around 11:30 p.m. on the Wednesday of the incident that the RBDF notified the US Coast Guard, the outlet reported.
A 325-square-mile search was conducted before it was called off, the outlet reported. After the search was suspended, King noted, “The probability of survival decreases significantly particularly if a person did not have on a life vest and particularly if a person is perceived to be intoxicated,” per the Daily Mail. The US Coast Guard also offered condolences to the Robbins family in a statement released after the search was called off.
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The teen was adopted, and his family said he loved competitive sports.
Cameron Robbins is survived by his dad Will, mom Shari, brother Cole, and sister Cassie, per the Daily Mail. A tribute for Cameron said that he was adopted in November 2004, shortly after he was born in Abilene, Texas, and that he has been competing in sports since he was in preschool. The tribute read, “He grew up participating in any and every competitive activity that he could find, dominating numerous YMCA and church-league preschool team leagues. He eventually chose baseball as his first love.”
In addition to being a star baseball player, Cameron also loved “his truck and country music, and was always a big star in the shower and with karaoke machines. He loved to fish, making frequent trips to his family's fish camp in Fourchon, LA,” the tribute reads. According to the tribute, Cameron had just made a fishing trip to the Louisiana Gulf Coast with his dad and brother prior to leaving for the cruise in the Bahamas.
A memorial service for the teen has been scheduled, and tributes are pouring in.
Tributes have been pouring in, and a memorial service for Robbins has been set for Sunday. It is evident the teen was dearly loved by his family and friends through the words they wrote in the guestbook for his obituary. A family friend wrote, “Cameron was such a bright light! I adored him as a child and young adult. He will certainly be missed! Praying for all of you!”
Cameron’s baseball coach, Justin Morgan, said, "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," per the Daily Mail.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the Robbins family through this heartbreaking loss, and donations can be made in Cameron’s honor to the adoption agency Christian Homes and Family Services.
