Autopsy finds death of Obama chef was an accidental drowning

By

August 25, 2023

The Associated Press reported last month that the Obama family was rocked by the death of their personal chef Tafari Campbell.

This week saw authorities categorize the 45-year-old Campbell's death as an accident following an autopsy.

Chef drowned near the Obamas' home

According to the Washington Post, that determination was made by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Massachusetts.

Timothy McGuirk serves as a spokesman for the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, and he told the paper on Tuesday that autopsy results are generally not made public.

However, McGuirk did say that Campbell's passing was officially ruled to be an accidental drowning which occurred on July 23.

The deceased had been paddleboarding in Edgartown Great Pond, which is located on Martha's Vineyard near the home of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Attempt to rescue Campbell failed

A report published by the Boston Globe stated that "Campbell was standing on his paddleboard when he lost his balance and fell off."

"He struggled to remain afloat before slipping beneath the water. Campbell was not wearing a life jacket and wasn’t secured to his board. Campbell’s body was found in about 8 feet of water," it added.

The report went on to explain that an unidentified woman unsuccessfully attempted to provide Campbell with assistance after seeing him go under.

Efforts by a rescue swimmer to locate Campbell were also unsuccessful and his body was not recovered until the following morning.

Former first family: "Tafari was a beloved part of our family"

The New York Post quoted a statement put out by the former president and first lady concerning Campbell's death that read, "Tafari was a beloved 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 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," the former first couple recalled.

"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," Mr. and Mrs. Obama continued.

"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 continued.