Eighteen-year-old high school graduate Cameron Robbins was on a celebratory trip in the Bahamas when he jumped off a ship on May 24, allegedly on a dare. The US Coast Guard called off the search after two days, but Robbins has still not been found. Blurry and dark videos have been circulating on social media, leading many to believe there may have been a shark in the water with the high school graduate from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The Blackbeard’s Revenge sunset cruise was northeast of Nassau, near Athol Island, an area that is home to a lot of marine life, including sharks, experts told Fox News. Though these types of incidents occur for different reasons, an estimated one to two people go overboard on a cruise ship each month, a report from Cruise Lines International showed, reported The Points Guy.
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Investigators are weighing in on reasons why Robbins has not been recovered yet. Some suspect he encountered a shark.
Chilling videos showing Robbins jumping off the ship have been circulating on various social media platforms. Some initially suspected a current could have pulled Robbins away from the ship and the life preserver that was thrown in the water. But others have pointed out a blurry shape in the dark waters that appears to look eerily like a shark, as seen in this video posted by Florida Boy on YouTube.
Royal Defense Force Commodore Raymond King said, “It’s an area that is really shark-infested,” reported Fox News. On the other hand, spokesperson for the United Cajun Navy, Brian Trascher, says nothing is certain at this point.
Trascher told Fox News: "We definitively don't have anything conclusive enough to determine if Cameron Robbins came in contact with any marine life. We are consulting with professors at the LSU Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences for expertise.”
Without a life vest, chances of survival are significantly lower.
King noted in an update that without a life vest, the odds of survival were slim. "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,” King said. "It is so unfortunate, but I don't want the family to lose hope.”
Trascher pointed out that the “inclement” weather conditions the night of the incident are another factor that has made it challenging to locate Robbins.
Cruise lines recommend following a few rules to stay safe.
Even though much of the news coverage about cruise ships tends to be negative, there are only rare tragic occurrences. It is reportedly one of the safest forms of travel, per Travel Pulse. But there are important rules to follow to increase your safety and limit accidents while aboard a ship.
The majority of cruise ship related injuries are due to falls, so passengers should use and respect handrails while aboard, advises cruiseline.com. Also, be careful of how much alcohol you consume as that can impair judgment as well as mental and physical abilities.
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The teen’s local community is hoping for the best.
The school Robbins graduated from and attended for over 10 years has been holding prayer vigils since he disappeared and has offered counseling to the students at Baton Rouge’s University Laboratory School, per Fox News. A Facebook user who appeared to be a friend of the Robbins' family, Drew Sutton, also posted an update on Facebook asking for prayers for Robbins to be recovered.
Sutton wrote, “Please keep Cameron Robbins and his family in prayer. He's been missing since late Wednesday night in the Bahamas on his senior trip. May god's mercy and peace surround us in this time as we keep hoping Cameron will be found, soon!”
