(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Newly released audio of a 911 emergency call has shed light on the frantic attempts to rescue former President Barack Obama’s personal chef, Tafari Campbell, from drowning off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard.
First reported by the Daily Mail, the heavily redacted audio revealed the harrowing sequence of events that led to the tragic passing of the 45-year-old chef.
JUST IN: The 911 call made by Secret Service after Barack Obama’s chef Tafari Campbell died after falling off of a paddle board, has been released.
“We have a male drowning in the, um, back of the property right now. We have our rescue swimmers. They’re attempting to go out… pic.twitter.com/NBu1XTtXNs
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 24, 2023
“We have a male drowning in the back of the property now,” an individual identified as “Dave” informed the emergency responders. “We have our rescue swimmers, they’re attempting to go out there right now.”
Investigators claimed that Campbell had lost balance while paddleboarding, causing him to disappear beneath the water. Despite the efforts of the rescue team, his lifeless body was discovered several hours later. Authorities ruled that the cause of death was accidental drowning, but questions remained unsolved as Campbell reportedly knew how to swim.
JUST IN: Obama was reportedly ‘at the emergency response scene’ after his chef Tafari Campbell drowned near his residence.
According to Judicial Watch, records obtained from the Massachusetts State Police ‘indicate’ that Obama was present for a witness interview.
“[The records]… pic.twitter.com/tBJmtpwJnQ
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 21, 2023
The released audio offered limited information to due to redactions made by the Dukes County Sheriff’s Office, reportedly to shield the identities of those involved and to withhold specific details about the former president’s property.
During the distress call, the agent’s urgent exchange paints a harrowing picture of the property. “911 call, this line’s recorded, where is your emergency?” a male dispatcher asks, followed by a 10-second bleep.
“A rescue swimmer and an agent driving down there right now to get on the boat,” the agent told the dispatcher. “Someone came running up to our back post, saying a gentleman, it’s just a guest of the house, is out there drowning. So right now our rescue swimmer is going out there.”
The audio shows another bleep seconds until the emergency dispatcher asks, “Do you need an ambulance or water rescue as well?”
Unable to respond, the agent asks his colleagues for answers. “They didn’t advise right now. I would say at least an ambulance. I don’t know what they’re doing in the back of property right now. We have our rescue swimmer who’s getting the boat right now. So, um, I would say at least an ambulance.”