Barack Obama's Chef Drowns While Paddleboarding at a Pond Near Their Martha's Vineyard Home
Massachusetts police reported that a former White House chef, who had served former president Barack Obama's family, was discovered deceased on Monday in a pond on the south shore of Martha's Vineyard. Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Netflix

Massachusetts authorities have confirmed that a body discovered near former President Barack Obama's Martha's Vineyard residence belongs to the family's former chef, according to The Hill.

The Massachusetts State Police issued a news release on Monday stating that they retrieved the body of a missing paddleboarder from Edgartown Great Pond.

The recovery was made by divers from the MSP's underwater recovery unit after the Massachusetts Environmental Police detected the body using side-scan sonar from a boat.

The victim has been identified as Tafari Campbell, 45, who had previously served as a personal chef for the former first family.

Originally from Dumfries, Va., Campbell was visiting the Obamas' Martha's Vineyard residence at the time of the tragic incident.

Meanwhile, the Obamas were not present at their residence during the discovery, as authorities mentioned in their statement.

Barak Obama's Chef Went Missing After Paddleboarding

Tafari Campbell's disappearance was first reported early Sunday evening after he went paddleboarding, CNN reports.

He entered the water and appeared to struggle briefly to stay on the surface before submerging and not resurfacing, the police said. A witness who was paddleboarding with him at the time witnessed the incident.

After receiving the report of the missing paddleboarder, authorities initiated a search operation.

Massachusetts Environmental Police officers were able to recover Campbell's body shortly before 10 am on Monday from Edgartown Great Pond, as stated in a police news release.

The underwater recovery unit conducted the retrieval, locating the victim's body approximately 100 feet from the shore and submerged at a depth of 8 feet, according to information provided by state police, said ABC News.

Notably, Campbell was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident.

Former President Barack Obama Releases Statement Following Tafari Campbell's Death

Previously working at the White House, Tafari Campbel had a significant history with the Obama family.

After the 44th president's tenure ended in 2016, Campbell continued to work for the Obamas, becoming an integral part of their lives, per Al Jazeera.

In a joint statement, the Obamas expressed their deep sorrow over Campbell's passing, describing him as a beloved family member.

They praised his creativity and passion for food, which he saw as bringing people together.

Over the years, Barack Obama's family came to know Campbell as a warm, fun, and extraordinarily kind individual who brought brightness to their lives.

When the Obamas were preparing to leave the White House, they asked Campbell to remain with them, and he graciously accepted the invitation.

Since then, he has been a constant presence in their lives, fostering a close bond with the family.

Campbell is survived by his wife, Sherise, and twin sons, leaving behind a loving family now facing this profound loss.

The Obamas' estate in Martha's Vineyard was acquired in 2020 for $11.75 million, the Independent said.

The purchase followed years of annual holidays to the idyllic New England Island, a favored summer destination for America's affluent elite for over a century.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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