Authorities investigating the death of a man who was paddleboarding near former President Barack Obama’s Martha’s Vineyard home said there was nothing suspicious in his death.
The body of the man, who was identified by Mr. Obama and others as 45-year-old Tafari Campbell, was found at Edgartown Great Pond on the morning of July 24 after an extensive search, according to officials. Mr. Campbell had previously worked as the Obama family’s personal chef.
In an update on the case on July 25, the Massachusetts State Police told news outlets that Mr. Campbell wasn’t wearing a personal flotation device and wasn’t connected to the paddleboard when he fell into the water on July 23. He was with another paddleboarder, who wasn’t identified and who attempted to help Mr. Campbell but couldn’t reach him, officials said.
The state police said Mr. Campbell was standing on the board when he lost his balance and fell into the water. Another paddleboarder then swam to the shore and told another person about what happened, according to police.
The other unnamed paddleboarder told officials that when they couldn’t get to Mr. Campbell’s location in time, they then swam to shore and asked someone to call 911. The Dukes County Regional Emergency Communications Center then initiated an emergency search-and-rescue operation for the man that involved several agencies, officials said.
Search-and-rescue crews searched for hours that night and resumed their efforts the next morning, according to the state police.
“The police investigation and post-mortem examination is completed except for receipt of toxicology results, which is a standard procedure in all autopsies that generally takes several weeks to complete,” the state police said in a statement to news outlets. “Barring any further significant developments, which are not expected at this time, the State Police will provide no further updates on Mr. Campbell’s tragic passing.”
An ongoing investigation into Mr. Campbell’s death is being carried out by the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit for the Cape and Islands District, as well as the Edgartown Police.
Mr. Campbell was visiting Martha’s Vineyard during the time of his death, according to the state police. The Obama family wasn’t at their residence at the time, police said.
Statements Issued
The Obama family released a statement after Mr. Campbell’s death was confirmed.“Tafari was a beloved part of our family,” the statement reads. “Our hearts are broken that he’s gone.
“When we first met him, he was a talented sous chef at the White House—creative and passionate about food and its ability to bring people together. 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.
“That’s why, when we were getting ready to leave the White House, we asked Tafari to stay with us, and he generously agreed. He’s been part of our lives ever since, and our hearts are broken that he’s gone.”
The Obamas said Mr. Campbell is survived by his wife and their two children.
“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,” they said in the statement.
According to reports, Mr. Campbell isn’t the first former White House chef to drown in recent years. In 2015, Walter Scheib, who worked as an executive chef at the White House under the Bush and Clinton administrations, drowned while hiking in Taos, New Mexico.
The large home has seven bedrooms, 8 1/2 bathrooms, several fireplaces, a two-car garage, a detached pool and barn, and additional features, according to the publication. The mansion is surrounded by about 30 acres of land near Turkeyland Cove, according to other reports.
Mr. Campbell’s wife issued a public statement after her husband’s sudden death.
“My heart is broken,” she wrote alongside a photo of Mr. Campbell, noting that her life is “forever changed.”
“My life and our family’s life is forever changed. Please pray for me and our families as I deal with the loss of my husband.”
According to Coast Guard data, there were 18 deaths connected to stand-up paddleboarding in 2021, as compared to 10 such deaths in 2020. Officials recommend that would-be paddleboarders take a paddling safety course from the American Canoe Association or other reputable trainers.
