Marquise Hill Reported Missing After Watercraft Incident
New Orleans - Officials told New Orleans television station WDSU on Monday that they recovered the body of Marquise Hill of the NFL's New England Patriots.
The news report came about 17 hours after the Coast Guard received word that Hill was missing following an apparent water scooter accident on Lake Ponchartrain.
The body was found about a quarter-mile from where Hill and a female companion were involved in the accident. The search was conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard as well as by the New Orleans Police Department and Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department.
Hill's agent, Albert Elias, said he had been told that Hill and the young woman were jet skiing yesterday when both went into the water, which had a strong current.
The former Louisiana State University player, a defensive tackle in the NFL since 2004, was reported missing Sunday night. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said at about 10:45 a.m. Monday that they were no longer on a search and rescue mission.
The search began after the Coast Guard received reports that a man ventured onto the lake Sunday on a personal watercraft and did not return. A woman believed to be with Hill was rescued.
The call to the Coast Guard came shortly before 9:30 p.m. Sunday. The caller said he had found a woman in the water, holding onto a piling and calling for help. The boater rescued the woman, who told him that there was another passenger on the watercraft with her.
WDSU reported that a wave flipped Hill's craft. A nearby boater tried to toss a rope to the player, but he could not grab it.
The Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter from Air Station New Orleans, two rescue boat crews and additional resources.
Hill was a defensive tackle for the Patriots and a New Orleans native. He saw limited action in the NFL last season, with brief appearances in four games.
Posted By: Jimmy Jones
Wednesday, May 30th 2007 at 8:14AM
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