An American teenager disappeared after jumping off a boat into the ocean while on a trip to the Bahamas.
In May 2023, 18-year-old Cameron Robbins had just graduated from high school in Louisiana. To celebrate, he traveled to the Caribbean with friends and boarded the Blackbeard’s Revenge cruise ship.
However, the trip took a tragic turn when Robbins jumped into the water at night. Witnesses say he went overboard as part of a “dare,” and the moment was recorded and shared online.
That would be the last time anyone saw Robbins.
In the video, Robbins is seen swimming away from a life ring as passengers try to get his attention. “This kid just jumped off!” someone yells, while another person tells him to grab the preserver. The clip ends, and it remains unclear what happened next.
Jonathan Chia, a spokesperson for Pirates’ Revenge Ltd, the company behind the cruise, confirmed that Robbins went overboard at around 9:40 p.m. The crew followed their safety procedures, launching a “man overboard” protocol to try and rescue him.
A search was carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF). After several days with no sign of Robbins, the search was called off.
The U.S. Coast Guard expressed their condolences to his family, saying, “We were informed by the RBDF that they were suspending active search efforts and were not requesting further Coast Guard assistance after notifying the Robbins family.”
RBDF Commodore Raymond King later raised concerns about sharks in the area, saying, “This location is known to have a lot of sharks.”
He also mentioned that Robbins’ survival chances were low, especially if he wasn’t wearing a life jacket or was possibly intoxicated.
Viewers who saw the video also noticed what looked like a disturbance in the water, leading some to believe a shark may have been nearby. Others suggested that Robbins was trying to swim away from something in the water.
Robbins was later presumed dead, and his family shared an emotional tribute.
“Though he left too soon, he lived a life full of friends and family. He was funny and kind-hearted but also driven. He loved his grandparents and took pride in his work.”
“He will be missed deeply by his loved ones, who will cherish his memory forever.”