Barack & Michelle Obama's Mourn Personal Chef Who Drowned Near Martha Vineyard Home: 'Our Hearts Are Broken'

Barack and Michelle Obama are grieving the loss of a close acquaintance. The couple's longtime cook, Tafari Campbell, recently passed away in an unfortunate accident.

The dynamic duo became one of the world's most powerful spouses in 2009 when the Honolulu native was elected as the 44th president of the United States. The pair's rise to fame also boosted the deceased's career.

The late kitchen staffer went from a sous chef to becoming the Obamas' personal chef, a position that allowed the 45-year-old to gain a close relationship with the lovebirds. Following his tragic demise, his former employers paid tribute to the Dumfries native with a heartwarming statement.

Monday, July 24, marked a dark day in the Democrat couple's world as their personal chef died near their residence. Campbell lost his life in an accident while paddle boarding close to the Obamas' Katama estate in Martha's Vineyard.

Massachusetts State Police officers confirmed the cook's demise to PEOPLE, announcing in a statement that the 45-year-old's body had been found by divers from a pond on Edgartown Great Road. The discovery was made a few minutes before 10 a.m. ET.

"MSP Underwater Recovery Unit divers made the recovery after the victim’s body was located by Massachusetts Environmental Police Officers deploying side-scan sonar from a boat," the police department explained in their press release. 

According to the authorities, the Dumfries native's body was recovered "approximately 100 feet from shore at a depth of about eight feet." In a separate statement, law enforcers revealed the Obamas did not bear witness to the tragic event.

"Mr. Campbell was visiting Martha’s Vineyard at the time of his passing. President and Mrs. Obama were not present at the residence at the time of the accident," the Massachusetts State Police representative divulged.

Martha's Vineyard police and fire agencies started searching for Campbell at 7:46 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 23. They became aware of the former White House staffer's ordeal after responding to a desperate 911 call.

The informant's emergency report was about "a male paddle boarder who had gone into the water, appeared to briefly struggle to stay on the surface, and then submerged and did not resurface."

Following the confirmation of the cook's death, the Obamas honored their late employee with a touching tribute. The couple described the 45-year-old as "a beloved part of our family," noting their everlasting love for the chef.

"When we first met him, he was a talented sous chef at the White House — creative and passionate about food and its ability to bring people together," the lovebirds' joint statement began.

"In the years that followed, we got to know him as a warm, fun, extraordinarily kind person who made all of our lives a little brighter," the power couple continued, adding that they snatched Campbell from the White House.

"That’s why, when we were getting ready to leave the White House, we asked Tafari to stay with us, and he generously agreed. He’s been part of our lives ever since, and our hearts are broken that he’s gone," the duo revealed.

The former president and first lady concluded their emotional statement: "Today we join everyone who knew and loved Tafari — especially his wife Sherise and their twin boys, Xavier and Savin — in grieving the loss of a truly wonderful man."

Although the Obamas showed a united front while addressing the death of their personal chef, the couple did not achieve this unity overnight. Last December, the former first lady shocked the world by recalling when she was unhappily married to the father of her two children for a long time.

According to the Chicago native, there was a decade-long period when her marriage hung by a thread as she could not bear to be around her husband. "People think I'm being catty by saying this — it's like, there were 10 years where I couldn't stand my husband," the 59-year-old confessed.

"And guess when it happened? When those kids were little," the proud mother of two continued. The "Becoming" author explained the strain in her marriage occurred when the pair were trying to pursue their careers and realized they could not bring 50/50 to the table while raising their children.

When asked about his wife's comments, the former president confessed, "Let me just say this: it sure helps to be out of the White House. And to have a little more time with her." Barack acknowledged Michelle's difficulties in raising their daughters and confirmed his partner was a "little more forgiving" of his "flaws."