Update: New details emerge about Tafari Campbell, the Obamas’ personal chef, who drowned while paddleboarding near the former president’s home.
Campbell, 45, was reportedly paddleboarding with a female staff member when he lost his balance and fell into the murky pond that backs up to the Obamas’ $12 million estate on July 23.
Sources tell DailyMail.com the female staffer — who has not been identified –- tried to save Campbell, but she was forced to swim to shore. She went back out in a boat to try and find Campbell.
She reportedly called 911 at 7:46 p.m. — minutes before sunset.
A Secret Service agent also phoned emergency services from the Obama compound on Turkeyland Cove.
The Martha’s Vineyard police launched a search for Campbell well after dark. Campbell’s body was found Monday morning at 10 a.m.
Police described the female staffer as “devastated” but clear-headed and sober.
She was out on the water on a boat going “back and forth,” while searching for Campbell, according to police.
“We met with the reporting party, she is on a boat with two individuals and they’re going back and forth as well,” said one of the rescuers at 8:23 pm.
Campbell was “on vacation” on Martha’s Vineyard when he died. He leaves behind his wife, Sherise, and their teenage twin sons. They were at home in Virginia at the time of the tragic accident.
Originally published on: July 28, 2023 at 09:54 AM:
Secrecy surrounds the drowning death of Tafari Campbell, former President Barack Obama’s personal chef.
Campbell reportedly drowned while paddleboarding on Great Edgartown Pond on Sunday, July 23.
The pond backs up to the Obamas’ $12 million estate on Turkeyland Cove in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.
Campbell, 45, was reportedly paddleboarding with another man when he fell off the paddleboard and drowned.
Police refused to name Campbell’s paddleboard companion. Authorities denied reports that the other paddleboarder was Obama, 62.
At the time of his death, Campbell was reportedly “on vacation” on Martha’s Vineyard, apparently without his wife, Sherise, who was back home in Virginia with their twin sons.
According to DailyMail.com, Campbell’s paddleboard companion witnessed him lose his balance and fall into the water. The man tried to swim to Campbell but was unable to reach him before he went under and drowned.
The man swam to shore and alerted another person, who placed the 911 call at 7:46 p.m.
The reason for the 911 call was left blank on the police call log, according to DailyMail.com.
The reasons for all other 911 calls from the same night were filled in.
Additionally, the location of the 911 call was changed.
The Massachusetts State Police claims the call originated from Wilson’s Landing, a paddleboard launch area on a beach about 2 miles from the Obamas’ residence.
That conflicts with initial reports from the Martha’s Vineyard police that the call originated from the Obama residence on Turkeyland Cove.
The Obamas have their own private beach where a paddleboard can be launched from.
The identity of the 911 caller has not been released. But emergency service dispatch claims the 911 caller was a woman who went out on a boat, searching for Campbell in the dark.
It was nightfall when police assembled a search party. The sun sets on Martha’s Vineyard at 8:04 p.m.
Campbell’s body was recovered the next morning at 10 a.m. in about 8 feet of water.
Dave Procopio, a state police spokesperson, said Campbell was not leashed to the board nor was he wearing a flotation vest.
A neighbor found Campbell’s paddleboard on Turkeyland Cove not far from the Obamas’ estate.
Procopio denied claims that Obama was paddleboarding with Campbell. He said the Obamas were not at home when the incident occurred.
“I won’t comment on where exactly President and Mrs. Obama were, but they were not at the house or with Mr. Campbell that evening,” he said.
