The personal chef of the former US president Barack Obama died during an accident on a paddleboarding trip near the Obamas’ home in Massachusetts. Tafari Campbell, 45, worked in the White House before staying with the family after Mr Obama left office in 2016.
On Sunday, he disappeared into the waters of Edgartown Great Pond on Martha’s Vineyard.
The Obamas released a statement praising his talent in and out of the kitchen.
“Tafari was a beloved member of our family. When we first met him, he was a talented assistant chef at the White House – creative and passionate about food and its ability to bring people together,” Mr Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama said on Monday.
“In the years that followed, we got to know him as a warm, funny, extremely kind man who made all of our lives a little brighter.”
Mr. Campbell had been visiting Massachusetts from his home in Virginia at the time of his death. According to police, the Obama family was not home at the time of the accident.
The search began Sunday night for “a man paddling in the water who appeared to briefly struggle to stay afloat and then sank and did not resurface,” according to the police report.
“Another paddleboarder was in the lake with him at the time and noticed him going under the water,” it added.
On Monday, his body was found “about 30 meters from the shore at a depth of about eight meters”.
The Massachusetts State Police unit is investigating his death, but it is believed to be an accident, CBS News reported.
Mr. Campbell had worked in the White House during Mr. Obama’s eight-year term in Washington. During this time he helped create some of the most famous presidential recipes, including a beer made from ingredients grown at the White House.
When it was time for the first family to depart Washington, they asked Mr. Campbell to follow them and he “generously agreed,” the Obamas’ statement added.
Source: News Beast
With 6 years of experience, I bring to the table captivating and informative writing in the world news category. My expertise covers a range of industries, including tourism, technology, forex and stocks. From brief social media posts to in-depth articles, I am dedicated to creating compelling content for various platforms.
