New details have been released that offer a glimpse into the frantic moments immediately after the tragic drowning death of former President Barack Obama’s personal chef, Tafari Campbell, in July.
Campell, 45, had been paddle boarding on the Obama’s property in Martha’s Vineyard when he slipped into the water unexpectedly. He was not wearing a life jacket at the time.
“We have a male drowning in the back of the property right now. We have our rescue swimmers,” a Secret Service agent identified only as Dave tells the 911 dispatcher in the newly released emergency call.
“They’re attempting to go out there right now… Someone came running up to our back post saying that a gentleman — it’s just a guess of the house, is now out there drowning,” the agent said. “So right now our rescue swimmers going out there.”
The 911 call was placed at 7:46 p.m. after agents were alerted by an unnamed person that Campbell was missing in the water.
The audio is heavily redacted to maintain anonymity of those involved in the emergency call.
“And you said you guys have boat access. So, what do you guys need?” the dispatcher is heard asking. “Do you need an ambulance or do you need water rescue as well?”
“They didn’t advise right now. I would say at least an ambulance, and I don’t know if they’re… what they’re doing in the back of the property right now… So our rescue swimmers aren’t able to locate the gentleman that — that was reported drowning. So, they’re out in the water right now,” the agent responds. “But as of now, they have no– they don’t know where he is…”
The agent then asks if he can call back on another line to give any follow-up information that may come, which the dispatcher gives. The agent later is heard talking to another dispatcher on the alternative line, seemingly more desperate.
“So our rescue swimmers aren’t able to locate the gentleman that was reported drowning,” Dave said.
“They’re out in the water right now but as of now they don’t know where he is.”
“He’s wearing all black, he’s on a paddle board. He’s 40ish years old, black gentlemen, regular build,” the agent tells the dispatcher when asked for a detail description. “And we have our rescue swimmers on a boat in the area now.”
Campbell’s body was found the next morning by a rescue boat equipped with sonar. Investigators quickly announced the death was an unintentional drowning and quickly closed the case.
The Horn editorial team