After a relentless search stretching over three days, authorities have put a hold on their efforts to locate an 18-year-old Louisiana teen, Cameron Robbins, who had gone missing in the Bahamas during his senior trip. Robbins was reported missing from the pirate-themed boat ride, Blackbeard’s Revenge, after he supposedly leaped overboard in response to a dare.
Robbins, a recent graduate from University Laboratory School in Baton Rouge, was celebrating his successful academic journey with fellow students from various local high schools. His disappearance came just four hours into their group’s arrival in the Bahamas, during a sunset cruise near Athol Island on Wednesday.
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force, who had taken charge of the search mission since the beginning, declared their decision to halt the search on Friday evening. They announced that they did not require further assistance from the US Coast Guard, which had previously been involved in the operation.
This announcement came after the Robbins family had been notified, according to Lt. Cmdr. Matt Spado, a liaison officer from the US Coast Guard.
“We offer our sincerest condolences to Cameron Robbins’ family and friends,” expressed Spado, voicing the collective grief over the tragic turn of events.
As per witnesses on the Blackbeard’s Revenge, Robbins didn’t fall overboard but rather jumped off the ship on a dare.
Louisiana teen missing after jumping overboard on a dare on Bahamas sunset cruise https://t.co/95n8oBeTBQ pic.twitter.com/tkGPH59hf3
— New York Post (@nypost) May 26, 2023
The incident was captured on video, showing Robbins splashing in the water a few feet from the boat before he vanished. The crew remained in the vicinity for several hours, desperately trying to locate Robbins.
In the wake of Robbins’ disappearance, Fox News reported the presence of unfavorable weather conditions around the time of the incident. Despite the harsh conditions, the US Coast Guard managed to scour an area of over 325 square miles in their quest to find Robbins.
The news of Robbins’ disappearance sent ripples of grief through the community. Reflecting on his impact at the University Laboratory School, Kevin George, the School Director, remembered him fondly. The teen, he said, had attended the school for 13 years and had played as a pitcher on the school’s baseball team.
“He’s an athlete, great kid, great smile, great head of hair,” George recounted. “Just one of the kids you’re so proud of when they cross the stage.”
Justin Osborne, Robbins’ former baseball coach, expressed his sorrow on Facebook, saying, “This kid is one of the best kids I’ve ever had the privilege to coach. His heart was huge, always smiling, always finding the best in others.”