BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS: Tafari Campbell, the personal chef of former US President Barack Obama, died during a paddleboarding incident near the Martha's Vineyard estate of the Obama family, situated in Massachusetts, in late July.
On Tuesday, August 22, officials confirmed that his death was accidental, according to Daily Mail.
Chef Tafari Campbell's body was recovered after a two-day search
After Tafari Campbell was observed struggling in the water and subsequently disappearing beneath the surface, a two-day search operation was initiated to find him. Unfortunately, his body was recovered from the Edgartown Great Pond of the Massachusets island on July 24.
Witnesses reported that he went underwater, resurfaced briefly while struggling to stay afloat, and then submerged again around 7.46 pm during the paddleboarding outing.
A substantial joint-agency search was launched following a 911 call made from the Obamas' Martha's Vineyard residence, leading to the discovery of Campbell's body two days later in eight-foot-deep waters around 100 feet from shore, as per Daily Mail.
According to Timothy McGuirk, spokesperson for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, the autopsy determined his cause of death to be drowning, with the manner of death ruled accidental. Notably, the Obamas were not present during the incident.
Campbell had previously worked as a sous chef at the White House and continued serving the family after Barack Obama's second term concluded in 2017, as revealed by the former president and his wife, Michelle Obama.
Hailing from Dumfries, Virginia, Campbel is survived by his wife, Sherise, and twin sons.
Obamas mourn Chef Tafari Campbell's death
The Obamas expressed their grief over Tafari Campbell's death in a statement, highlighting his role as an esteemed chef in the White House kitchen.
"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," read the statement.
It 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."
Both Barack and Michelle shared touching memories and photographs of Campbell on their social media platforms, writing, "Tafari Campbell showed us what true character looks like."
Michelle shared a picture of herself posing with Campbell and the former president in the White House and wrote, "I will miss my friend, Tafari...the emptiness is hard. But I promise to stay strong, keep living, and honor your legacy in every way possible. Rest in peace, my brother."
Campbell's culinary journey started with a passion for cooking, leading him to pursue formal education in the field. He eventually joined the White House kitchen under the George W Bush administration, continuing as one of the four White House cooks retained during the Obama presidency, as per Daily Mail.
