Cameron Robbins’ family retraced his final steps in Bahamas
The family of missing Louisiana teenager Cameron Robbins retraced his final steps in the Bahamas – including the “shark-infested” waters where he went overboard – before authorities ultimately called off the search, according to an official.
Robbins, 18, was last seen late May 24 in the waters off Athol Island in the Bahamas after he leaped from Blackbeard’s Revenge, a pirate ship-style vessel.
Disturbing video footage from the boat shows Robbins initially swimming away from a rescue buoy as onlookers shout for him to grab the life raft, with online viewers speculating he was trying to get away from a shark.
The US Coast Guard spent days looking for any sign of Robbins or his belongs before officials called off the search.
The missing teen’s family traveled to the Bahamas shortly after the news of his disappearance and aided in the meticulous search for him, United Cajun Navy Vice President Brian Trascher told WBRZ.
“It took a lot of strength for them to go out there and stay for a few days,” Trascher said.
“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, which I know had to be very emotional for them, but they went.”
The family returned to Louisiana Sunday, he told the news outlet.
Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) officials notified the US Coast Guard around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday of Robbins’ disappearance, after the teen was allegedly dared to jump into the water.
RBDF Commodore Raymond King previously told the Daily Mail the waters are “really shark-infested,” which prompted online speculation a flash of a shark could be seen in waters near Robbins in the footage.
Crews searched over 325 square miles with no success before concluding their search on May 26.
What to know about Cameron Robbins disappearance
Cameron Robbins, 18, graduated from University Laboratory School in Baton Rouge in May and was on a trip to the Bahamas with students from several local high schools.
According to witnesses, the teen — who was apparently acting on a dare — took a plunge off a party cruise into the ocean near Athol Island at night.
Robbins was last seen splashing in the dark, “shark-infested” waters a few feet from the boat, before vanishing from view.
A chaotic video was taken moments after the jump also shows the recent graduate ignoring onlookers’ pleas for him to grab a buoy.
The party ship remained in the area for several hours while the crew attempted to look for Robbins.
The Coast Guard called off its own search two days later, after reportedly scouring over 325 square miles.
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Trascher told the news outlet search crews always spend at least 48 hours scouring waters for any sign of the person they’re hoping to find.
“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 reportedly said.
Robbins, a beloved high school baseball player from Baton Rouge, had graduated from University Laboratory High School three days before the Bahamas trip.
He celebrated the accomplishment in a post on his Instagram alongside several photos of his friends and family, which he captioned: “So sad it’s over.” Tributes poured in.
A memorial service for the teen has been scheduled for June 4, from 2 to 4 p.m., at the Broadmoor United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge.
A GoFundMe page has also been created to benefit the family.
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