A shocking incident has come to light after a 45-year-old man lost his life due to a possible drowning. The man in question is Tafari Campbell, who was former USA President Barack Obama’s personal chef and was versed in swimming as well. The incident took place at a lake near the ex-president’s Martha’s Vineyard resort community. A 911 call was made after Chef Campbell was discovered struggling in the water during a paddle boarding excursion.

Massachusetts State Police confirmed the identity of the victim to be Tafari Cambell on Monday. The incident took place on the Edgartown Great Pond when Campbell was out on the waters with another person. While Tafari knew swimming, he was seen struggling in the water and ultimately went under the surface of the 890-acre large body of water, never to come up again.

Swimming enthusiast loses life during paddle-boarding

On Sunday, the authorities received a call that a paddle-boarder had gone under the water and not come up. After reaching the venue of the incident, the officials started searching for the body and found the lifeless Tafari Cambell about 30 meters from shore and 8 ft underwater using sonar. He had disappeared under the Edgartown Great Pond, Massachusetts, after he was seen struggling above the surface of the water. The struggle came as a surprise, as, according to Campbell’s social media, he was proficient in swimming.

Unfortunately, knowing swimming could not save his life. Witnesses informed that they saw him go underwater, then come up to the surface struggling, before getting submerged again. The chef had not been wearing a life jacket. According to Vineyard Gazette, Chief Alex Schaeffer of the Edgartown Fire Department said that after the emergency call was made, the officials searched door-to-door and the shoreline of the lake, but could not recover the body on Sunday. The body of the 45-year-old was finally recovered on Monday. At the time of the incident, Cambell, who is a resident of Dumfries, Virginia was visiting the resort community of Martha’s Vineyard.

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However, reports say that the Obama family was not present at their Martha’s Vineyard house at the time. The investigations into the death of the 45-year-old are underway. While many sources quote the cause of death as a ‘possible drowning’, it comes as a shock to the community, as Campbell was a swimming enthusiast proficient in various strokes. He regularly indulged in swimming lessons and knew various strokes as well. The Obama family has suffered a great loss.

Former President Barack Obama gives tribute to the fallen

Tafari Campbell used to work at the White House during the reign of the 44th President. When Obama left office in 2016, Campbell also followed the ex-President to his home to continue cooking for him. Rightly, the Obama family was heartbroken after hearing the sad news of Campbell’s passing. According to reports, the Obamas, in a joint statement, said, “Tafari was a beloved part of our family. He was … creative and passionate about food, and its ability to bring people together.” The Obama family also shared their experience working with the chef. They added, “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 the statement given by the family, Campbell leaves behind his wife, Sherise, and 19-year-old twin sons. Tafari Cambell and his wife Sherise were married in 1999. The staff members in the Martha’s Vineyard community also remembered the fallen chef as a “wonderful guy” who was “nice and quiet”. 

Tafari graduated from a culinary school in Virginia before starting his own restaurant. After a while, he applied to be a chef at the White House and became a part of the family. Even though he tried his best to become proficient in swimming, unfortunately, he could not fight the wrath of mother nature. The loss of this talented life is a major shock.

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