These are the haunting last images of a teenager missing at sea after he leapt into the sea from a graduation party boat.
Cameron Robbins, 18 – who had graduated from high school in Baton Rouge, in the US state of Louisiana, just days before – has not been seen since.
Baseball player Cameron had been part of a group of students and pals from the University Laboratory School celebrating with a yachting holiday in the Bahamas.
The group had booked a midnight sunset cruise on a party ship called Blackbeard’s Revenge from Nassau aboard a full-sized replica galleon.
A website for the trips boasts of its two fully stocked bars and party DJs.
In night-time video footage – shot on Wednesday, 24th May – Cameron is seen in the ocean beside the boat.
Although at the time he does not seem to be in distress someone on board has already thrown a life belt into the water.
But as Cameron swims away from it one of his partying pals on board shouts out: “This kid f*cking jumped off!”
He is then heard shouting: “Oh my f*cking God!”
As the camera pans left it reveals the deck of the boat packed with young party-goers.
Apparently failing to realise the seriousness of the situation, another person can be heard shouting “Bye, bye!”
Other people can then be heard shouting to the young man in the water to “grab the buoy” but Cameron swims away from it.
Then the person filming the scene says: “This kid’s f*cking gone, bro!”
A search and rescue mission to find the teen was aborted after two days, according to local media.
The US Coast Guard said on 25th May: “Search and Rescue Coast Guard crews are assisting the Royal Bahamas Defence Force with search efforts for a missing U.S. citizen believed to have fallen overboard from a sunset cruise near Nassau, yesterday evening.”
The US Coast Guard then announced on 27th May that it had concluded its search efforts for the missing man, saying: “The Coast Guard concluded its search efforts while assisting the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Friday, for a missing 18-year-old man near Nassau, Bahamas.
“Missing is Cameron Robbins, a recent high school graduate.
“Royal Bahamas Defence Force personnel contacted Coast Guard District Seven watchstanders, Wednesday, at 11:30 p.m. reporting the man fell off the Blackbeard’s Revenge sunset cruise ship and entered the water.
“District Seven watchstanders launched ready aircrews and developed search patterns to assist the Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s search and rescue efforts.
“Coast Guard crews searched more than 325 square miles.”
The statement quoted Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Spado, Coast Guard liaison officer to the Bahamas as saying: “U.S. Coast Guard District Seven deployed multiple search and rescue assets in response to an agency assistance request from our partners in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.
“Our Coast Guard command center and aircrews based in Miami supported RBDF search and rescue efforts since the initial report Wednesday evening, and continued through Friday evening.”
He added: “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. We offer our sincerest condolences to Cameron Robbins’ family and friends.”
The Coast Guard said that an MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter crew, MH-60 Jayhawk Helicopter crews, and an HC-144 Ocean Sentry crews had been involved in the search and rescue attempts.
They asked that anyone with any new information should “contact Coast Guard District Seven watchstanders at 305-415-6800”.
A fundraiser has been launched to support the family, with the summary on GoFundMe saying: “Cameron went missing during a boating excursion in the Bahamas directly following his high school graduation from University High in Baton Rouge, LA. This fundraiser is to support the Robbins family for anything they may need during this time.
“Cameron’s mother, Shari is an indescribably amazing teacher and her kindness and devotion has helped countless children throughout her career. Please donate as you can and share this fundraiser to support her and her family through this unimaginable situation.”
At the time of writing it had raised more than USD 13,000 (GBP 10,500), beating its USD 10,000 (GBP 8,080) target.
University Lab School Director Kevin George said Robbins said in a statement: “The University Lab School Community is praying for the best possible outcome of this situation.
“I have been in touch with Cameron’s family and at this time, authorities are still searching for him in the Bahamas.
“In times like these, we must come together and support each other.
“Words fall short of expressing the worry our entire school community is feeling. Extra counselors will be available on campus to speak with students and faculty who are struggling to process this news.
“Our thoughts are with the Robbins family, and we ask that you keep them in your thoughts as well.”
