(TheRedAlertNews.com) – HAPPENING NOW: The former personal chef of the Obama family drowned while paddleboarding near the Obamas’ Martha’s Vineyard estate. Authorities revealed on Monday that they found the body of Tafari Campbell, who was 45, in the water close to the property.
Before becoming the Obamas’ chef, Campbell worked as the sous chef at the White House while Barack Obama was president. When Obama’s term ended, Campbell was asked to stay on as a member of his personal staff.
Emergency services were called to the Obamas’ property on Sunday evening following reports of a possible drowning. The property, located at 79 Turkeyland Cove Road, spans 30 acres. Rescue efforts carried on throughout the night, involving divers, Coast Guard helicopters, and resources from several agencies.
Campbell’s body was eventually found around 10 a.m. on Monday, using sonar scanners launched from a boat. At the time of this tragic incident, the Obama family was not at home, according to the police.
The Obamas released a statement on Monday, expressing their grief: “Tafari was a beloved part of our family,” and further stating, “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. 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. Today we join everyone who knew and loved Tafari — especially his wife Sherise and their twin boys, Xavier and Savin — in grieving the loss of a truly wonderful man.”
A witness, who was also paddleboarding on the pond at the time, reported that they saw Campbell struggling in the water and then sinking without coming back up. Campbell was dressed entirely in black and did not have a life jacket. His paddleboard and hat were found soon after the search crews arrived.
