Cameron Robbins’ friends tried to stop him from jumping off party boat and into ‘shark-infested’ ocean: parent
Friends tried to intervene and stop missing teenager Cameron Robbins from jumping off a pirate-themed party boat and into the “shark-infested” ocean shortly before he disappeared in the Bahamas May 24.
A parent whose son was aboard the Blackbeard’s Revenge vessel told Fox News several students tried to stop Robbins before he plunged into the dark waters near the uninhabited Athol Island, just northwest of Bahamas capital Nassau.
“This was a booze cruise, and they were on their way back when this happened,” the parent told the network. “My son texted me when it happened, saying, ‘Cameron jumped off. They can’t find him.’ They were out there until 2, 3 in the morning.
“It was a terrible weather that night. The kids were cold, wet and traumatized. The girls were in bikinis and bathing suits. The guys were giving them their shirts. It was a bad time to bring drunk 18-year-olds out into waters near this island where there’s nothing.”
Haunting video footage shows Robbins swimming away from a rescue buoy as onlookers shout for him to grab the device.
Online viewers have speculated they could see flashes of shark-like sea creature in the video and Robbins was trying to get away from it.
A second later, he has disappeared under the surface.
The US Coast Guard, the United Cajun Navy and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force all searched the murky waters for the next two days.
They covered over 325 square miles with no success before calling off the search on May 26 as they had found no trace of Robbins.
In the video of the last moments Cameron is seen, someone can be heard yelling, “This kid f–king jumped off! Oh my f–king God! Oh, shut the f–k up! Oh, bye, bye!”
Brian Trascher, vice president of the nonprofit search-and-rescue group United Cajun Navy, told WBRZ: “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,” Trascher siad.
Robbins and his friends joined graduates from other high schools on Blackbeard’s Revenge for a pleasure cruise that was supposed to travel around the uninhabited Athol Island.
A spokesperson for Blackbeard’s Revenge told The Post the boat’s crew “executed the ‘man overboard’ protocol in line with all approved safety procedures and company policies to ensure the best chance of retrieving an individual who has gone overboard.”
“Our deepest condolences to the Robbins family as they go through this difficult time,” the spokesperson added.
“Since the incident, the company has reviewed all safety measures and protocols and are confident that the company’s practices were and continue to be in line with the highest industry standards to keep its passengers safe.”
A memorial service for the popular teen will beheld on Sunday in Baton Rouge.
