Patriots Defensive End Missing

[RamWraith]

Jet-Ski Accident In New Orleans

POSTED: 10:03 am EDT May 28, 2007
UPDATED: 10:41 am EDT May 28, 2007

Boston -- The Coast Guard is searching for Patriots defensive end Marquise Hill after a jet-ski accident in Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana.

Another boater called in the accident around 9:30 p.m. The boater said he heard someone yelling for help and found a woman holding on to a piling. The boater said he saw Hill but lost sight of him before he could get close enough to rescue him.

A Coast Guard rescue helicopter crew from Air Station New Orleans, two rescue boat crews and a Coast Guard truck crew from Coast Guard Station New Orleans are searching for Hill.

According to Hill's official biography on the Patriots website, he was born in New Orleans and attended Louisiana State University with a degree in General Studies. He was drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 2004 draft

[Mr. Gaz]

They have found his body.

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said it had found the body of former LSU star Marquise Hill near the area where he was last seen Sunday night following a jet skiing incident.

Hill was jet skiing with a female friend in Lake Pontchartrain night when they both went into the water for an as yet undetermined reason. Eyewitnesses said the two were drifting apart in a strong current but that the woman was able to grab hold of a piling until she could be rescued.


Attempts to get to Hill while he was still visible were unsuccessful.


According to Coast Guard officials, a call came in around 9:30 Sunday evening about a woman floating in the water, hanging on to a piling.


Elias said the woman was rescued and rushed to the hospital where she told them that Hill had tried to keep her calm even as the two were drifting away from each other.


Elias said neither Hill nor the woman was wearing a life preserver.


Friends told Eyewitness News reporter Jill Hezeau that Hill was in for the holiday weekend and had gone to Lake Pontchartrain to jet ski.


“I’d never seen him as happy as he was yesterday,” said his uncle Aaron Hill.


A graduate of De La Salle High, Elias said that Hill has spent much of his time since Katrina helping family members rebuild their homes.


Hill played on LSU’s National Championship team and was drafted in the second round by New England in 2004.

[Drew]

always sad news when an NFL player dies no matter who he plays for or anything....horrible way to go to...i hope i die during sex!

[Varg6]

Terrible. My aunt died from a jet-ski accident as well. I don't find them fun, or safe whatsoever, and not just because I saw my aunt die on one. It didn't feel good in the water, and I don't understand what people see in it. It seems like there are way too many accidents happening that are associated with jet-ski's...

[UtterBlitz]

I like jet skis, but you need to respect them. They are fast and there are no brakes. Steering is difficult if you let off the throttle.

They were out late with no life jackets. It is sad to hear that he did not survive.

[itsguud]

May he rest in peace.

[ramsanddodgers]

Death is part of life but it is hard, and sometimes even unfair, when one dies in their prime.


I hope he had his affairs in order and condolences to his family.