Shark Expert Says This is What Cameron Robbins’ Last Moments Would Have Been Like

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Cameron Robbins, an 18-year-old recent high school graduate from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, went overboard the Blackbeard's Revenge cruise ship in the Bahamas on May 24 while celebrating graduation with friends. Witnesses alleged that Robbins jumped overboard due to a dare about 11:30 p.m. Now, shark expert Kevin McMurray, who manages a website called TrackingSharks.com, has stepped forward to explain how Robbins died if the cause was indeed a shark.

Viral video footage has circulated since the incident occurred, showing Robbins going overboard and onlookers yelling at the teen to “grab the buoy” someone threw in the water, but he appears to swim away from the buoy, leading some spectators to think he was swimming away from a shark.

The shark expert analyzed the blurry footage of Cameron Robbins in the water.

@_kimbra_ ⚠️TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️ Cameron Robbins, 18, was dared to jump off the cruise ship he was on. he disappeared into the water and has yet to be found. They called off the search today 5/28/22 prayers to his family, friends, classmates, and all who are affected. #batonrouge #cruiseship #cameronrobbins ♬ original sound - Kímbra

McMurray reviewed the viral video clip and haunting video footage that shows Robbins disappearing into the dark water and a white blur that could be a shark. "At the beginning of it, it looks like there is a shark or something. He's in the water, and over to the left, you can see it,” he said, per the U.S. Sun.

The shark expert noted that “it’s always a possibility” for shark attacks to occur in the ocean, specifically tiger sharks, the news outlet reported.

The shark expert has offered an analysis of how the 18-year-old may have died.

"So my analysis, what I think happened is, he got in the water and he was swimming around, the shark, for some reason, or whatever it is — I'm not for sure saying it is a shark, but it looks a lot like a shark — essentially it comes and surfaces and there's a life ring out to his right,” McMurray said, according to the Sun.

"So he's looking at whatever popped up out of the water, and instead of swimming toward the life ring he turns around at that point. I think all that splashing we see is just him trying to get away from whatever it is."

Raymond King, the Royal Bahamas Defense Force commodore, also reportedly said the water in the area where Robbins disappeared is “really shark-infested,” the New York Post reported, which some have speculated supports the theory of a shark being in the water with the teen.

The shark expert added that if Cameron Robbins died in a shark attack, it would make locating him or his remains nearly impossible.

He explained that a single bite from a shark would have been enough exposure that Robbins could have died from that alone. Or if he didn’t later sink from a wound or injury, then he might have been consumed entirely, per the Sun. "My guess is that if something like that did occur, maybe a single bite or something like that, more than likely, again you can't say because anything's possible, but exposure would probably be what I think would have occurred and he may have died of that. Either he sank or a shark ate his body, that's possible. There are a lot of tiger sharks there, and they'll scavenge.”

The expert also noted a shark attack or bite would make it very unlikely to find Robbins. "Recovering Robbins' body would be nearly impossible. Something like that, you're talking about a massive search area with currents and all that,” he explained, according to the Sun.

People are skeptical of the ‘shark’ theory.

Readers of the Post article were doubtful about some information surrounding the story, including the theory that Robbins died by a shark rather than getting dragged under by the current.

One reader pointed out that there should have been an identifiable scream if he was attacked by a shark. “This is so awful, but wouldn't someone hear him screaming if he were attacked by a shark?" the person commented. "Or maybe the music was too loud on the boat? What a nightmare for him and his family. I just can't imagine the anguish.”

Another reader pointed out that only one video seems to be circulating. “Does anyone else find it odd that there is only one video of this? In a world where everyone is constantly taking videos, I'm surprised there aren't videos from others on the boat,” the person wrote.

“Peer pressure…a dare…then tragedy…and totally needless…..very sad…condolences to the family!” someone else chimed in.

Another commenter suggested the teen’s peers should be held responsible. “EVERY teen who encouraged him to jump overboard should be held accountable. Their peer pressure would have made him feel it was necessary to prove himself, in a teenage mind. Stupid decisions all around,” the person commented.