Parents of Cameron Robbins break silence after US teenager jumped off Bahamas cruise ship into shark-infested waters
The grieving parents of Cameron Robbins have broken their silence after the 18-year-old jumped off a booze cruise ship into shark-infested waters and vanished.
Cameron Robbins’ parents said they “appreciate” the outpouring of support for their missing son Saturday, the day before a memorial for the 18-year-old who was tragically lost at sea in “shark-infested” waters late last month.
William and Shari Robbins, both 54, have been inundated with calls since Cameron jumped off a pirate-themed booze cruise ship in the Bahamas on a dare on May 24, they told The Post from their home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
But the couple were sweet and cordial talking about their son, a recent high school graduate and popular baseball star described as both “funny and kind-hearted” and “intense and driven.”
“We are just mourning our son right now,” Shari Robbins told The Post. “We appreciate you calling. Maybe we will be able to talk more later.”
William Robbins added, “We appreciate everyone’s support.”
The family wrote a lovingly detailed obituary for Cameron, whom they adopted shortly after his birth in Abilene, Texas.
“Cameron Crossley Robbins was a beloved grandson, son, brother and friend. He was lost at sea after being reported missing off the coast of Athol Island in the Bahamas on the evening of May 24,” they wrote.
Robbins played sports starting at the pre-school level, and “eventually chose baseball as his first love” and was a three-year varsity letterman in high school.
“He was a tough player, battling back from multiple injuries, known to pitch through separated shoulders and broken hands,” the obituary states.
Robbins also “loved his truck and country music” and was “a big star” in the shower and with karaoke machines. The teen also frequently did late-night raids in their pantry, “where he consumed large quantities of Fruity Pebbles and popcorn.”
A memorial service for the teen has been scheduled for 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Broadmoor United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his brother and sister, Cole and Cassie, and two grandmothers who he was very close to — as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be sent to the Christian Homes & Family Services in Abilene.
Robbins, who had graduated May 21 from University Lab School in Baton Rouge, apparently jumped overboard on a dare from Blackbeard’s Revenge, a pirate ship-style vessel.
He had just returned from a weekend fishing trip on the Louisiana Gulf Coast with his father and brother before he left for the ill-fated graduation celebration with his friends in the Bahamas.
Robbins was last seen late May 24 in the waters off Athol Island.
Haunting video footage shows the teen 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 creatures, including a “fin,” in the video and Robbins was trying to get away from it.
In the video of the last moments Robbins 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!”
A second later, he 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.
Robbins’ family had joined searchers in the Bahamas before returning to the US Sunday, officials said.
They covered over 325 square miles with no success before calling off the search on May 26 as they had found no trace of the recent grad.
This story originally appeared on The NY Post and is republished here with permission