Obamas' personal chef drowns near former POTUS' home. He could swim

A personal chef serving Barack Obama drowned near the former President's Martha's Vineyard residence. He was seen struggling in the water while paddleboarding near the Obama's home on Martha’s Vineyard, the Massachusetts State Police said on Monday (July 24).

It is said that Tafari Campbell was out paddleboarding with his friend and was later reported missing by a fellow paddleboarder. Emergency crews searched for him all evening but eventually found his body using sonar.

Campbell had his experience as a sous chef in the White House throughout Obama's eight-year tenure, playing a role in crafting renowned Presidential recipes, such as a White House-grown ingredient beer. Upon the first family's departure from Washington, they invited Campbell, who graciously accepted the offer to join them.

It is reported that Obama and his wife, former US First Lady Michelle Obama, were not present at the house at the time of the accident.

Police report

The Chicago Sun-Times reported thatMassachusetts State Police received a tip about a missing paddleboarder. A witness observed a man struggling to stay afloat before disappearing underwater on Sunday night.

Campbell's body was discovered the following morning by the authorities at a depth of approximately eight feet.

Obama Family on Campbell 

The Obamas, including former first lady Michelle Obama, were not home during the accident. Campbell, a former White House sous chef during Obama's presidency, was hired after the Obamas left to join their staff.

Post the confirmation of Campbell’s death, the Obama family issued a public statement in which they mourned Campbell’s demise.

Mystery around the cause of death 

The death of Tafari Campbell has certainly sparked a lot of speculation all over the internet regarding the cause of his death. Police authorities have clearly mentioned in their statement that the cause of Campbell's death was drowning, and no signs of foul play were found on his body. However, netizens are throwing a hard light of doubt due to certain confusing points about the accident.

Campbell could swim

Ever since Campbell's death was announced, a video started going round on social media of Campbell swimming at an indoor swimming pool. People on the internet have stressed that if Campbell could indeed swim, that nullifies the possibilities of him drowning.

Not the first time

Yes, this is not the first time a chef of the White House had died in an accident. Prior to Campbell's unfortunate demise, during the time of the Clinton Family at the White House, then Executive Chef of the White House, Walter Scheib, also died in an accident, and coincidentally, his cause of death was also drowning.

In 2015, the ex-White House chef's body was discovered in the New Mexico mountains following a week-long search. Medical examiners determined the 61-year-old Walter Scheib's death accidental, ruling out foul play and confirming drowning as the cause. The similarity in both these cases has certainly raised some eyebrows.