Who is talented baseball player Cameron Robbins, 18, who jumped off Bahamas boat

Publish date: 2024-06-05

On May 29, a haunting video emerged showing the chaos aboard a boat in the Bahamas after Cameron Robbins, 18, jumped off and into the sea on May 24.

Robbins - who hails from Louisiana and is a star high school baseball player - jumped into the water without a life jacket on, dressed only in swim trunks.

Following the dare-gone-wrong, Robbins went missing, resulting in the launch of multiple search and rescue missions by multiple agencies, including the US Coast Guard.

A GoFundMe was set up to support his family.

Who is Cameron Robbins?

Robbins had just graduated from the University Laboratory School in Baton Rogue where he was recognized as a star athlete by his friends and teachers.

His baseball coach paid tribute to the teenager and called him a 'fierce competitor.'

Justin Morgan said: 'Cameron is a kid who is truly loved by his teammates, teachers, and fellow classmates.

'He is a fierce competitor on the baseball field. He is a hard worker both on and off of the playing field.

'Our school community is struggling right now but hoping for the very best.

'Our thoughts and prayers have been and will remain with the Robbins family during this difficult time.'

University Lab School Director Kevin George said Cameron attended the school for all thirteen years of his education.

Robbins had just graduated from the University Laboratory School in Baton Rogue

Robbins pictured with his mother and brother during his high school graduation ceremony

What was Cameron Robbins doing on the boat?

The star athlete was celebrating his recent graduation from high school with dozens of other seniors from other Baton Rogue High Schools including U-High, Episcopal, Catholic, and St. Joseph’s Academy, a parent told the news outlet.

The students had only arrived on the island hours before the pirate-themed sunset boat excursion and had been staying at the Atlantis Paradise Island in Nassau, the parent said.

He was seen wearing his robe and smiling in an Instagram photo taken days before his disappearance.

The ship was near Athol Island, an uninhabited island located northeast of Nassau, when Robbins leaped into the sea.

Robbins pictured playing high school baseball, for which he was recognized during high school as a star player

Why did he jump off the boat?

Witnesses claimed he was acting on a dare when he jumped overboard at 11.30pm on May 24 from the Blackbeard's Revenge sunset cruise ship according to WAFB.

What happened immediately after Cameron Robbins jumped into the sea?

Footage showed Robbins floating in the water without a life jacket as fellow students could be seen yelling in shock and surprise.

'This kid f****** jumped off!' said one person.

Another said, 'Oh my f****** god. Oh, shut the f*** up. Oh, bye...bye... Oh ... s***!'

'Grab the buoy.. grab the buoy,' others yelled out hoping he would hear them.

But video shows Robbins, who was a few feet away from the boat, suddenly drifting in the other direction and away from the buoy, before he disappears into the darkness, witnesses said.

The US Coast Guard District Seven deployed multiple search and rescue assets in response to obtaining assistance from their partners in the Royal Bahamas Defense Force.

They plotted and searched a 325-square-mile search searching for the young man.

A GoFundMe was created to help support the family.

'Cameron's mother, Shari is an indescribably amazing teacher and her kindness and devotion has helped countless children throughout her career,' Daniel Eiklor, the organizer and Shari Robbins, the beneficiary wrote.

'Please donate as you can and share this fundraiser to support her and her family through this unimaginable situation.'

As of May 29, more than $10,695 had been raised surpassing their initial goal of $10,000.

A video shows panic aboard a boat in the Bahamas moments after Louisiana star baseball player, 18, jumped off on a dare, as Coast Guard calls off search

Is the Coast Guard still looking for Cameron Robbins?

The US Coast Guard and multiple agencies searched the water for days looking for the missing young man. On May 26, the US Coast Guard officially called off the search, officials said.

'Our Coast Guard command centre and aircrews based in Miami supported RBDF search and rescue efforts since the initial report Wednesday evening, and continued through Friday evening (May 26),' a statement from the US Coast Guard read.

'We were informed by the RBDF this evening (May 26) that they were suspending the active search efforts pending further developments, and were not requesting further Coast Guard assistance after notifying the Robbins family.'

'We offer our sincerest condolences to Cameron Robbins' family and friends.'

Robbins had just graduated from the University Laboratory School in Baton Rogue where he was recognized as a star athlete by his friends and teachers

Robbins pictured with a friend on an Instagram post earlier this year