Off The Record

18-Year-Old Went Missing After Jumping Off A Ship Into “Shark-infested Water” As A “Dare”

Published on February 17, 2025

This is the heartbreaking tale of an American youngster who went missing while on vacation in the Bahamas after plunging from a boat into “shark-infested waters.”

18-year-old Cameron Robbins was celebrating his high school graduation in Louisiana in May 2023 with pals aboard the Blackbeard’s Revenge cruise ship in the Caribbean.

But the trip would end tragically when Robbins allegedly leaped into the sea below from the side of an evening drunken cruise.

The adolescent had gone overboard as a “dare,” according to multiple witness accounts, and the incident was captured on camera and then shared online.

This would be Robbins’ last appearance.

In the clip, Robbins can be seen swimming away from the a life ring in the dark waters while passengers attempt to get his attention. “This kid fing jumped off! Oh my fing God,” one person can be heard shouting in the clip, while another tries to direct him to the life preserver.

After the video ended, Robbins’ whereabouts are unknown.

Jonathan Chia, a representative for Pirates’ Revenge Ltd., the parent company of the cruise ship, told The Independent that Robbins went overboard at around 9:40 p.m. local time. “The 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.”

The US Coast Guard and Royal Bahamas Defence Force then launched an official search for Robbins, but it was canceled a few days later after they failed to locate the adolescent.

“We were informed by the RBDF this evening that they were suspending the active search efforts pending further developments, and were not requesting further Coast Guard assistance after notifying the Robbins family,” the US Coast Guard said in their “sincere condolences” to Robbin’s family.

Concerns about the presence of sharks in the water were raised by RBDF Commodore Raymond King, who said in a press release at the time, “I can tell you that area where an individual reportedly jumped over, it’s an area that is really shark-infested as well.”

He went on to say, “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.”

People who saw the video also expressed concern about the existence of sharks, including tiger sharks, in the sea. Many thought that the animal was probably responsible for the disturbance in the water that was visible in the first few seconds of the film.

Others, meanwhile, hypothesized that Robbins might be swimming away from the life preserver because of the proximity of a tiger shark.

Robbins’ family posted a devastating tribute to him online after Robbins was eventually assumed dead.

“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,” the tribute read.

“He will be missed desperately by his family and friends, who will carry their cherished memories of him to eternity.”

Later, a GoFundMe was created to help his family.