Teenager Jumps Off Cruise Ship in Shark-Infested Waters in Bahamas Due to 'Alleged Dare'

Cameron Robbins, 18, from Louisiana, United States, was having the time of his life last month in the Bahamas where he was celebrating his recent high school graduation.

However, a tragic incident occurred when he went missing on May 24 while on a sunset cruise after he jumped off the vessel and into shark-infested waters due to an alleged dare, according to reports.

A joint search operation was conducted by the U.S. and the Bahamas for several days until it was called off on May 27. Since then, there has been no official conclusion as to what happened to Robbins, who has been "presumed dead" since he has not been found as of Tuesday, June 6. Authorities consider him to be "lost at sea" and a theory has emerged that he was attacked by a shark while in the water.

The Bahamas is a tourist hotspot known not only for the Bahama Mama cocktail and history of pirates but also for its breathtaking white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters. Yet, its beauty is also accompanied by rich marine ecosystems teeming with life, including sharks. In recent years, an American woman who was on vacation with her family also died in the Bahamas due to a brutal shark attack.

Cameron Robbins Goes Missing

(Photo : Image by baechi from Pixabay)
A stock photo of shark-infested waters.

Teen baseball star Robbins was in the trip with his classmates just several days after graduating from Louisiana State University. The graduates were reportedly on board a "local party boat" during evening hours when the incident occurred, NBC News reported.

A video report by the U.S. media outlet cited a clip posted on Snapchat showing the baseball star swimming in pitched-black waters and it appeared the footage was taken from the boat. Staff from the company operating the vessel confirmed the 18-year-old was on the trip but was uncertain as to how he went missing, based on the report.

Also Read: Female Tiger Sharks Interacting With Beach Tourists Have Higher Hormone Levels

Search Operation

Robbins reportedly fell off the sunset cruise off the coast of Athol Island on the evening of May 24, as mentioned earlier. In a tweet, the U.S. Coast Guard on May 25 said they were assisting the Royal Bahamas Defence Force in searching for the U.S. citizen.

During an interview with the New York Post, experts are uncertain that sharks are responsible for the disappearance of Robbins after he fell into the water, as cited by the British internet media company UNILAD.

Robbins' parents also requested to dismiss or not entertain the theory that their missing son was eaten by sharks.

The Jordan Lindsey Case

Regardless of what happened, the waters of the Bahamas are filled with different kinds of shark species amid its rich marine environment. With this, it is not far from reality that a shark attack occurred when Robbins fell off the party boat.

In 2019, an American girl named Jordan Lindsey, 21, was snorkeling in the Bahamas when three sharks apparently mauled her off the waters of Rose Island, Inside Edition reported.