Boating Accident

[Hale]

Body of ex-LSU star found in Lake Pontchartrain

03:06 PM CDT on Monday, May 28, 2007

WWLTV.com

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said Monday afternoon 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 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.

MORAL OF STORY - WEAR YOUR LIFE VEST AT ALL TIMES. HILL WAS A MONSTOR AND VERY STRONG BUT YOU CAN'T CONTROL WATER AND ELECTRICITY. ANOTHER LIFE GONE THAT SHOULD STILL BE AROUND, PLAYING IN THE NFL AND ENJOYING LIFE.

[texasbasser]

Very sad, Always wear a PFD and follow proper boating rules.

tb