The family of Cameron Robbins, who went missing after jumping overboard, has found his last steps
The family of missing Louisiana baseball star Cameron Robbins has visited the area where he was last seen jumping from a party boat into shark-infested waters.
Cameron Robbins, 18, was last seen in the waters off Athol Island, Bahamas, last week after jumping from Blackbeard’s Revenge party boat into shark-infested waters.
Footage shows Robbins swimming in the water as a life preserver is thrown at him and classmates tell him to grab hold.
But the teen seems to be fixated on a shadowy shape that appears in the water and immediately begins to swim away.
Speak against WBRZBrian Trascher, vice president of the United Cajun Navy, said his family traveled to the Bahamas and followed his latest movements.
The Robbins family is pictured here, of LR, mother Shari, Cole, Cameron, Cassie and father Will
The shadowy image, circled at left, moves toward Robbins as he swims away from the boat. Despite a life preserver being thrown at Robbins, he can be seen swimming away
He said, ‘It took them a lot of strength to go there and stay for a few days.
“When we offered to take them in a boat to the area where he went overboard and part of the area they were searching, they went.
“I know it had to be very emotional for them, but they went and on Sunday they decided they wanted to go home.
“If they found a piece of clothing or any other clue, they would extend that 48-hour period, but if they don’t get a clue, they usually cancel.”
Robbins’ immediate family are his mother Shari, father Will, brother Cole and sister Cassie.
The video has sparked speculation online that Robbins may have met his end after a shark went after him. People have claimed that they can clearly see a shark in the video.
Earlier this week, Commodore Raymond King of the Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) confirmed that the area where Robbins went overboard was “really infested with sharks.”
The Bahamas is home to very aggressive sharks, including tiger and bull sharks.
Witnesses claimed that Robbins took a challenge when he jumped overboard from the Blackbeard’s Revenge cruise ship at sunset at 11:30 p.m.
Robbins was last seen jumping overboard near Athol Island, not far from where he was staying on Paradise Island
Cameron Robbins, right, pictured with friends. A few days before his disappearance, he had graduated from the University Laboratory School in Baton Rouge
Robbins, pictured left with his grandmother and brother, had just graduated from high school days before
The students had only arrived on the island hours before the pirate-themed sunset boat excursion and were staying at the Atlantis Paradise Island in Nassau
Robbins had graduated from University High in Baton Rouge a few days earlier and was seen wearing his robe and smiling in an Instagram photo.
The star athlete celebrated with dozens of other seniors from other Baton Rouge high schools, including U-High, Episcopal, Catholic and St. Joseph’s Academy, one parent said.
The students had only arrived on the island hours before the pirate-themed sunset boat excursion and were staying at the Atlantis Paradise Island in Nassau.
After Robbins jumped, the boat and his crew members attempted to locate him, along with multiple agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard.
Cmdre King provided an update on the situation on Monday after the search was suspended last week.
He said: ‘The chance of survival decreases significantly, especially if a person is not wearing a life jacket and especially if a person is believed to be intoxicated.
“I can tell you that the area that a person reportedly jumped over is also an area that is really infested with sharks. It’s such a shame, but I don’t want the family to lose hope.’
The U.S. Coast Guard District Seven has deployed multiple search and rescue assets in response to getting help from their partners in the Royal Bahamas Defense Force.
The 325-square-mile search for Cameron Robbins, 18, is plotted in this chart
Robbins was a standout baseball player for his high school and his coach described him as a “fierce competitor”
Robbins was on a graduation trip involving many local high schools in the Baton Rogue area. The students stayed at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island in Nassau
They plotted and searched a 325 square mile area for the young man and called off their search last week.
After the search was called off on Friday, Robbins’ family said: “The government of the Bahamas has called off the rescue of Cameron and we are returning to Baton Rouge.
“We would like to thank the Government of the Bahamas, the US Coast Guard, the United Cajun Navy and Congressman Garrett Graves for all they have done for us.
“At this time of grief, we thank our family, friends and well-wishers for giving us the privacy we need to remember our son well and mourn his loss.”
Robbin’s social media pages highlight his baseball talent and his love for his friends and family.
“Cameron is a kid who is really loved by his teammates, teachers and classmates,” said his devastated U-High baseball coach Justin Morgan.
“He’s a formidable competitor on the baseball field. He is a hard worker both on and off the playing field.
“Our school community is going through a tough time right now, but we hope for the very best.
“Our thoughts and prayers are and will remain with the Robbins family at this difficult time.”