Global Courant
A paddleboarder who drowned near former President Barack Obama’s Martha’s Vineyard estate has been identified as Tafari Campbell, the Obamas’ personal chef.
Campbell, 45, of Dumfries, Virginia, was found Monday morning one day after disappearing in the waters of Edgartown Great Pond on Martha’s Vineyard.
Tafari Campbell was the Obamas’ personal chef. (White House)
Massachusetts State Police said Campbell was employed by the former president and was visiting Martha’s Vineyard at the time of his death. Barack and Michelle Obama were not in the home at the time of the accident, MSP said.
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“Tafari was a cherished part of our family. When we first met him, he was a talented sous chef at the White House – creative and passionate about food and the ability to bring people together. In the years that followed, we came to know him as a warm, fun, extremely kind person who made our lives a little brighter,” the Obamas said in a joint statement.
Edgartown police blocked the road to Wilson’s Landing on Monday. (Ray Ewing/Vineyard Gazette)
“That’s why, as we got ready to leave the White House, we asked Tafari to stay with us, and he generously agreed. He’s been a part of our lives ever since, and our hearts are broken that he’s gone. Today, we join everyone who knew and loved Tafari — especially his wife Sherise and their twin boys, Xavier and Savin — in grieving the loss of a truly wonderful man.”
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Campbell’s body was found just before 10 a.m. Monday at a depth of about 8 feet and 100 feet from the shore of Edgartown Great Pond. MSP divers recovered the body after Massachusetts Environmental Police officers used side-scan sonar from a boat to locate it, the agency said.
Authorities search Edgartown Great Pond for missing paddleboarder Monday morning (Ray Ewing/Vineyard Gazette)
Authorities initially responded at 7:46 p.m. Sunday after receiving a call about a male paddleboarder who had struggled to stay above the water and then went down near Turkeyland Cove. Officials said the man did not resurface.
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Another paddleboarder was in the pond with him at the time and saw him go underwater, according to authorities.
Fox News’ Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.
Bradford Betz is a Fox News Digital breaking reporter covering crime, political issues and much more.
