Cameron Robbins, an 18-year-old high school graduate, has been missing since May 24, when he fell overboard on a cruise ship at sunset in the waters near the Bahamas.
Mr. Robbins was celebrating his graduation from University Laboratory School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, by taking a trip to the Bahamas with two other teens when the tragic accident occurred.
The group were aboard Blackbeard’s Revenge, a sunset cruise, on May 24 when Mr. Robins went to sea.
According to reports, Mr. Robbins jumped off the boat for a challenge. Video filmed of the incident shows Mr. Robbins swimming in the water in near complete darkness.
After that, the 18-year-old disappeared.
The US Coast Guard and Royal Bahamas Defense Forces spent several days searching for Mr. Robbins before suspending search efforts on Saturday, May 27.
That’s all we know about Mr. Robbins’ disappearance.
Who is Cameron Robbins?
Cameron Robbins is an 18-year-old boy who recently graduated from high school at University Laboratory School, part of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
According to reports, Mr. Robbins played baseball while he went to school.
To celebrate graduation, Mr. Robbins and other teens were on a trip to the Bahamas and were staying at the Atlantis Paradise Resort in Nassau, Louisiana State University confirmed to NBC News.
The trip was not a school sanctioned event.
Cameron Robbins, an 18-year-old high school student from Baton Rouge, has disappeared after falling from a boat in the Bahamas.
(The Robbins Family Newsletter/WBRZ)
According to a statement from University Laboratory School Director Kevin George, obtained by local media WAFBM. Robbins attended the school for 13 years.
“The University Laboratory School community is praying for the best possible outcome to this situation. I have been in contact with Cameron’s family and the authorities are still looking for him in the Bahamas. In times like this, we all need to work together. Support each other. Words fail to express.” Concern felt by our entire school community. Additional counselors will be available on campus to speak to 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,” wrote Mr. George.
The Independent I contacted the university’s laboratory school for comment.
What happened?
Mr. Robins and others on the voyage were on a sunset cruise on a ship called Blackbeard’s Revenge on the evening of May 24 when Robins dared jump overboard.
In a statement provided to the independent, Jonathan Shea, a representative of Pirates’ Revenge Ltd, the parent company of Blackbeard’s Revenge, said the robins went away at around 9.40pm local time in Montagu Bay off Athol Island in the US.
Video captured moments after Robbins jumped into the water showed the 18-year-old swimming around the ship as passengers on the sunset cruise yelled at him.
In the video, people can be heard urging Mr. Robbins to grab the buoy they had thrown into the water for him.
Cameron Robbins fell off the sunset cruise ship Blackbeard’s Revenge on his high school graduation cruise in the Bahamas
(Blackbeard’s Revenge)
“The crew applied the ‘man overboard’ protocol in accordance with all approved safety procedures and company policies to ensure the best chance of recovering a person who fell overboard,” said Mr. Xia.
Commodore Raymond King of the Royal Bahamas Defense Force said in a Facebook video post that the area the Robins jumped into was “a really shark infested area”.
Rumors that the waters were “shark-infested” were not confirmed by the US Coast Guard.
The Independent Contact the US Coast Guard for comment.
What were the search efforts?
The Royal Bahamas Defense Force contacted the US Coast Guard, District 7 at around 11:30 p.m. local time to report that the blackbirds had fallen into the sea, according to a Coast Guard statement.
“US Coast Guard Area 7 deployed several search and rescue assets in response to a request for assistance from our partners in the Royal Bahamas Defense Force,” Lieutenant Commander Matthew Spado, Bahamas Coast Guard Liaison Officer, said in the press. launch.
Shea said Pirates Revenge Ltd worked closely with Bahamas authorities and the US Coast Guard during the incident and will continue to be involved with authorities in the investigation.
For several days, the Coast Guard and the Royal Bahamas Defense Forces searched the site and the waters around the site where Mr. Robbins disappeared using search crews and patterns.
After Coast Guard crews searched more than 325 square miles, they ended their effort with the Royal Bahamas Defense Force on May 27.
“The RBDF informed us this evening that they were suspending active search efforts pending further developments, and did not seek further assistance from the Coast Guard after notifying the Robbins family. We offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Cameron Robbins,” Mr. Spado said in the statement.
What now?
A GoFundMe begins to benefit Mr. Robbins’ family as they deal with the aftermath of a difficult situation.
Although the search is complete, the US Coast Guard is asking anyone with new information to contact District Seven Watchdogs at 305-415-6800.
In a statement, Mr. Shea said the Pirates’ Revenge Ltd: “has reviewed all security procedures and protocols and we are satisfied that the work practices have been and continue to be of the highest standards in the industry to ensure the safety of its occupants.” With the approval of the Bahamas authorities, Pirates’ Revenge Ltd. has resumed cruise operations. We would like to thank the crew for their continued professionalism and expert execution of their duties during the incident.
Mr. Shea added: “Our deepest condolences go out to the Robbins family as they go through this difficult time.”
