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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
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Fiona Leishman

Teen baseball star Cameron Robbins jumped off boat in shark infested waters - timeline

A high school graduation holiday took a tragic turn after a teen baseball star jumped overboard on a sunset cruise, before disappearing into the darkness.

Despite a multi-agency search effort, Cameron Robbins has still not been found almost two weeks after his disappearance.

Cameron, 18, was a recent graduate of University Laboratory School in Louisiana, and was on a school trip with classmates and students from other Baton Rouge high schools in the Bahamas. The teen baseball star had graduated just days earlier.

Chilling footage shows the moment Cameron went overboard, having apparently been dared to jump into the water off the sunset cruise ship. Classmates in the video can be heard egging him on, encouraging him to jump into the water - which he did without any form of life jacket.

Cameron Robbins, 18, was a recent high school graduate (Family Handout)

Witnesses quickly realised things were turning dark, however, and can be heard in the video shouting at him to grab the buoy which had been thrown in to help him. However, Cameron started drifting away before disappearing into the darkness.

The US Coast Guard worked with Bahamian authorities to launch a search and rescue effort on a huge scale, however after just two days it was called off.

We've broken down everything that's happened since Cameron went overboard in a timeline below:

Day one (May 24) - Cameron jumps overboard

18-year-old Cameron from Louisiana was filmed jumping off the Blackbeard's Revenge sunset cruise ship. He, along with other students from Baton Rouge high schools, were on a graduation trip staying at Atlantis Paradise Island in Nassau.

Cameron and other students from University Lab School arrived in the Bahamas just hours before going on the boating excursion.

Witnesses say Cameron was reacting to a dare when he jumped overboard.

He can be seen in video footage jumping from the boat in swimming trunks with no life vest. He appears to splash in the water several feet from the boat before drifting off into the darkness.

Video footage captured Cameron in the dark water before he vanished (Reddit/QuietWest3764)
Cameron jumped into the water in just his swimming shorts without a life jacket (Reddit/QuietWest3764)

Stunned passengers can be heard saying: "Oh my f*****g god. Oh, shut the f**k up. Oh, bye... bye... Oh... s**t!" Another shouts: "Grab the buoy... grab the buoy."

The video has sparked debate and speculation online as to what happened to Cameron, with some people saying they can clearly see a shark in the footage. The Bahamas is known to be home to highly aggressive shark species including tiger and bull sharks.

The US Coast Guard were deployed to help in the search for the missing teen. Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) personnel contacted the US Coast Guard District Seven watchstanders on Wednesday, May 24, at 11.30pm with a report the teen had fallen overboard and entered the water.

Aircrews were launched and search patterns developed by the Coast Guard to help the RBDF's search and rescue efforts. In total, Coast Guard crews searched more than 325 square miles.

Day two (May 25) - Parents fly out

According to the search-and-rescue nonprofit group United Cajun Navy (UCN), Cameron's parents had been in contact with US Representative Garrett Gaes to arrange emergency travel to the Bahamas.

Cameron, left, reportedly jumped off the ship as a dare (williamcole031/Instagram​)

The UCN arranged accommodation for the family as they met with local Bahamian investigators as well as a charter boat to take them to the area where Cameron went overboard.

Brian Trascher, vice president of UCN, expressed his admiration for the family's strength. He said: "It took a lot of strength for them to go out there and stay for a few days.

Day three (May 26) - Search called off

The US Coast Guard called off the search for Cameron on Friday, May 26. In a statement they said they called off their search after being informed by the RBDF that they were suspending their active search efforts.

Lieutenant Commander Matthew Spado, Coast Guard liaison officer to the Bahamas, said in a statement: "US Coast Guard District Seven deployed multiple search and rescue assets in response to an agency assistance request from our partners in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.

Cameron apparently loved Fruity Pebbles (Cameron Robbins/Instagram)

"Our Coast Guard commander center and aircrews based in Miami supported RBDF search and rescue efforts since the initial report Wednesday evening, and continued through Friday evening.

"We were informed by the RBDF this evening (Friday, May 27) 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."

Day five (May 28) - Family fly home

On Sunday, May 28, Cameron's family flew back home after the search was called off. After the search was called off his family released a statement, saying: "The Bahamas government has called off the rescue for Cameron and we are returning to Baton Rouge.

"We want to thank the Bahamas government, the US Coast Guard, the United Cajun Navy, and Congressman Garrett Graces for everything they have done for us.

"In this time of grief we thank our family, friends and well wishers for granting us the privacy we need to properly remember our son and mourn his loss."

Day six (May 29)- Area is 'really shark infested'

In an update on Monday, May 29, RBDF Commodore Raymond King confirmed the waters where Cameron went overboard is "really shark infested".

The community was shocked by the teen's disappearance (ABC news)

Commodore King said: "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.

"I can tell you that the area where an individual reportedly jumped over, it's an area that is really shark infested as well. It is so unfortunate, but I don't want the family to lose hope."

Day 11 (June 3) - 'He left this world far too soon'

Cameron's parents William and Shari Robbins, both 54, say they've been inundated with calls and support since Cameron went missing. They said they "appreciate" the outpouring of support they've received the day before a memorial service for the teen.

An obituary shared on Saturday, June 3, said: "Though he left this world far too soon, he lived a life full of good friends and family. He was funny and kind-hearted, but also intense and driven.

"He doted on his grandparents and he took pride in his work. He will be missed desperately by his family and friends, who will carry their cherished memories of him to eternity."

Cameron (centre) was described as "funny and kind-hearted, but also intense and driven" (Instagram)

Cameron was known as a star athlete, with his obituary saying: "He grew up participating in any and every competitive activity that he could find, dominating numerous YMCA and church-league preschool team leagues."

It continued: "He eventually chose baseball as his first love. He hoped to continue his baseball career at the college level. In addition to being a high school athlete, he was undefeated in pop-a-shot." (An arcade basketball game).

The obituary added: "He loved his truck and country music, and was always a big star in the shower and with karaoke machines."

Cameron was a keen athlete and enjoyed fishing (Facebook)

Cameron was also a lover of food. The obituary read: "Finally, he loved all things edible, especially his mother's red beans and his grandmother's spaghetti and meatballs. He made frequent late-night trips to his family's pantry, where he consumed large quantities of fruity pebbles and popcorn."

The family have asked for well wishes to make donations in his name to Christian Homes & Family Services in Abilene, Texas.

Day 12 (June 4) - Teen remembered at private service

A memorial service was held on Sunday, June 4, in memory of the young baseball star.

The service was held at the Broadmoor United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, and was kept private with loved ones seen filing into the church.

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