Obama's chef was paddle-boarding with woman who tried to help in drowning

31 July 2023 , 23:28

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Tafari Campbell, 43, worked in the White House while Obama was president (Image: White House)

Barack Obama's chef Tafari Campbell had been paddle-boarding in a pond beside the former president's Martha's Vineyard estate with a female staff member when he drowned.

The woman was on a separate paddle board and tried desperately to reach Mr Campbell after he had fallen into the water. However, she was ultimately forced to return to the shore so she could go and get help.

A Secret Service agent then reportedly called emergency services from Obama's estate in Edgartown, Massachusetts. At the shore, the witness reportedly spoke to investigators, appearing lucid and clear, with no signs of intoxication, insiders told the Daily Mail.

More than a week on from the drowning, which happened on Sunday, July 23, authorities have yet to release anything more than sparing details about the incident, with names of almost all involved being withheld.

Mr Campbell was paddleboarding on the Great Pond in Edgartown near Obama's estate (Realtor.com)

Authorities were called at 7.46pm, with police and fire agencies responding to the report that Mr Campbell, 45, had fallen off his paddle board, struggled to stay afloat briefly and then gone under. Mr Campbell was an Obama employee who lived in Virginia.

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State police confirmed there was a second paddle boarder out on the pond with Mr Campbell who witnessed him drowning. According to the Daily Mail, sources have said the witness spoke to police at the scene, and appeared devastated but clear-headed and sober.

A multi-agency search for Mr Campbell continued into the night, as fire companies from across the island descended on Edgartown's Great Pond Boats and divers were used in the search efforts, with Massachusetts State Police, the Dukes County Sheriff's Department and Coast Guard all present.

In an effort to help rescuers track down Mr Campbell, the witness attempted to direct rescuers to an area of the pond where Mr Campbell was thought to have gone under. Crews scoured the location that night, but did not find a body.

Authorities were also seen searching properties around the pond, hoping Mr Campbell may have made it ashore. He was located at around 10am the following morning by a Massachusetts Environmental Police officer boat which had deployed side-scan sonar.

Tafari Campbell, 43, (pictured with wife Sherise) was found dead on Monday by divers

It was a sombre scene as the body was hoisted up out of the water by divers, before being lifted onto a fire boat, placed in a bag and covered with a tarp. Mr Campbell's body was taken to Wilson's Landing, which had served as the command post.

There, a Secret Service agent identified the body as the missing chef, according to sources. At the time of the incident, Barack Obama and his wife Michelle were away from the house.

It's unclear whether their daughters, Sasha, 25, and Malia, 22, were at home, out with friends or their parents. Several of those who took part in the search said they did not see the Obamas at the scene when the body was recovered.

However, they did notice several Secret Service agents who were described as communicative and helpful. Authorities have only released limited information regarding the incident.

Official logs from Martha's Vineyard Police left the reason for the emergency call blank, while the reason for every other call that night had been listed. Edgartown Police Chief Bruce McNamee said the call log is generated by the Dukes County Sheriff's Office.

Speaking to the Daily Mail he said he could only speculate as to why the log had been left blank, saying it may be because the caller from Obama's estate didn't call 911 - which automatically generates location data. He also said the address was listed as Wilson's Landing because that was the public launch used as the command post during the search.

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Obama's house from Turkeyland Cove where Campbell worked as the Obama's personal chef (Realtor.com)

When the call came in, authorities were unsure as to where the drowning occurred, so used the command post site for the incident location, according to Chief McNamee. An investigation has ruled the drowning as a tragic accident, with no signs of foul play, thought toxicology results are still pending.

The water where Mr Campbell was found is said to be just eight feet deep, with police saying he had not been wearing a life preserver and was not leashed to his board. He did, however, know how to swim - with a video posted on social media showing himself swimming laps.

A lack of public information as to the circumstances of the drowning has led to speculation and allowed conspiracy theories to run wild online.

Sasha and Malia Obama flew out from the island on Tuesday, July 25, while the former president and First Lady resumed some of their normal activities. They had been spending their summer at their $12 million estate, with Michelle Obama seen playing tennis at the local Farm Neck country club on Friday, July 28.

Barack Obama spent his Friday hitting the links at the members-only Vineyard Golf Club. The former president was spotted with bandages on the fingers of his left hand - though they are believed to be worn to improve his grip rather than as a result of any injury.

Fiona Leishman