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Tafari Campbell (in November 2008 at the White House)
Photo: Ron Edmonds / AP
The search has been going on for two days, and since Monday evening (local time) it has been a sad certainty. The personal chef of former US President Barack Obama has died. He was only 45 years old.
As the authorities reported, the body of Tafari Campbell was discovered in the water of the Edgartown Great Pond in the US state of Massachusetts. The body of water is located on the celebrity island of Martha's Vineyard and near a house owned by the Obamas, according to the Guardian.
The search was launched after a paddler was observed on Sunday evening who seemed to be in trouble. According to eyewitnesses in another paddle boat, the man eventually sank and did not resurface.
In the search, the police had also used divers. The sonar had identified the body about 30 meters from the shore in about 2.40 meters of water depth. The man was not wearing a life jacket.
"Tafari was a beloved part of our family. He was creative and a passionate cook. He had the gift of bringing people together. Over the years, we have found him to be a warm-hearted, funny and kind-hearted person who has enriched all of our lives," the Obama family said in a statement.
Koch leaves behind his wife and two sons
Campbell had worked as a sous-chef in the White House and had followed the Democratic politician after he had retired from the presidency in 2016 after two terms. "Since then, he has been part of our lives and our hearts are broken because he is now gone," the Obamas wrote.
Before his accident, Campbell had been visiting Martha's Vineyard. However, the Obama family was not present at the time.
Campbell is survived by his wife, Sherise, and sons, Xavier and Savin, the Obamas said. The authorities are investigating the case, but so far it is assumed that it was an accident.
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