MASSACHUSETTS, UNITED STATES: Emergency dispatchers responded urgently to a potential drowning incident involving Tafari Campbell, the personal chef for the Obamas, who fell into the water while paddleboarding on the night of Sunday, July 23. Tragically, his body was discovered on July 24 by rescue crews in eight-foot-deep waters, approximately 100 feet from the shore of a Martha's Vineyard property owned by the Obamas.
Tafari Campbell, 45, had been a dedicated sous chef for the Obamas for a considerable period. On July 23, evening, he went out paddleboarding on Edgartown Great Pond, Massachusetts, accompanied by another individual. Regrettably, Campbell vanished during the outing, and witnesses reported that he was struggling to stay afloat before he disappeared.
What happened to Campbell?
Dispatchers promptly alerted the Edgartown Fire and Water rescue personnel, providing the location as Turkeyland Cove Road for a potential drowning incident involving a 40-year-old male. He went “into the water, appeared to briefly struggle to stay on the surface, and then submerged and did not resurface,” a state police news release revealed.
According to witnesses, on that night, a man, later identified as Campbell, was seen drowning underwater and then briefly resurfacing, struggling to stay afloat before submerging again at approximately 7.46 pm. The witness, who was paddleboarding with Campbell on Edgartown Great Pond, shared this account.
Following the distress call, Chief Alex Schaeffer of the Edgartown Fire Department stated that island police and firefighters conducted thorough door-to-door searches. Additionally, firefighters combed the shoreline of the pond on foot, putting in all efforts to locate the esteemed chef.
Search operations resumed on July 24, morning, as Campbell, who was last seen wearing all black and without a lifejacket, remained missing. On July 23, his paddleboard and hat were found, and tragically, his body was discovered around 10 am on July 24.
What did the Obamas tell?
In response to the heartbreaking news of Campbell's untimely demise on Monday, Michelle and Barack Obama expressed their deep sorrow. They shared that Campbell, who was married and had twins, 19, held a special place in their hearts as one of the top chefs in the White House kitchen. The Obamas lovingly described him as a cherished member of their family.
"When we first met him, he was a talented sous chef at the White House — creative and passionate about food, and its ability to bring people together. In the years that followed, we got to know him as a warm, fun, extraordinarily kind person who made all of our lives a little brighter," as per CNN. They further added, "That’s why, when we were getting ready to leave the White House, we asked Tafari to stay with us, and he generously agreed. He’s been part of our lives ever since, and our hearts are broken that he’s gone."
Before his tenure at the White House, Campbell pursued his passion for cooking by graduating from a culinary school in Virginia. Additionally, he had the experience of owning his own restaurant, though it was for a brief period.
