A portion of the identity of the second paddleboarder who was with former President Barack Obama’s chef when he perished on Martha’s Vineyard has been revealed.
The U.K. Daily Mail reported Monday, “A female staff member of Barack Obama had been with chef Tafari Campbell when he tragically drowned while paddle-boarding in a pond beside the former president’s estate” on July 23.
“The woman, who was on a separate paddle board, had tried in vain to reach Campbell after he had fallen off but was ultimately forced to return to shore to summon help,” the news outlet added.
Sources told the Daily Mail that Secret Service agents called emergency services at 7:46 p.m. on that Sunday evening from the Obama compound in Edgartown.
The witness was reportedly “lucid and clear exhibiting no signs of intoxication.”
The Massachusetts State Police said in a July 23 news release that Campbell, “who had gone into the water, appeared to briefly struggle to stay on the surface, and then submerged and did not resurface.”
The police call register for the evening was empty.
According to the Daily Mail, Edgartown police superintendent Bruce McNamee speculated that the caller may have omitted the reason for the call because he or she did not dial 911 but instead dialed a business line.
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According to the Great reservoir Foundation, the incident occurred at Edgartown’s Great Pond, a 890-acre littoral reservoir connected to the Atlantic Ocean.
The $12 million residence of the Obamas has a private shoreline on the pond’s shore.
Campbell’s body was found around 10 a.m. on July 24 approximately 100 feet from shore in eight feet of water.
There were no obvious signs of external trauma, and the results of a toxicology examination have not been released.
The Daily Mail noted Campbell’s swimming ability based on a video of him swimming laps that he posted to social media.
This is the former White House chef, Tafari Campbell, who just drowned at the Obamas residence on Martha’s Vineyard after working as their personal chef since leaving the WH. 🚨
Video from Feb 14th, 2019 pic.twitter.com/5SrFwJxhOp
— Heather Mullins (@TalkMullins) July 25, 2023
More than a week after the disaster, authorities have not disclosed the names of the majority of those involved, as reported by the news source.
Online rumors suggested that former President Obama may have been with Campbell when he perished.
The Daily Mail reported that Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama, and the couple’s daughters Sasha and Malia were all away from the estate at the time of the tragedy.