Body of Patriots' Marquise Hill found

[slapshot]

Officials in New Orleans found a body in the area where New England Patriot Marquise Hill and a young woman fell while jet skiing yesterday on Lake Pontchartrain, but have not confirmed that the body is Hill's.

"State authorities found a body in the vicinity that the Coast Guard has been searching," said Petty Officer Third Class Tom Atkeson of the US Coast Guard." We still have yet to determine if that is the body of Mr. Hill."

However, Capt. Brian Clark of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Department told the Associated Press, "The family will have to make positive identification ... but the body we found was that of Mr. Marquise Hill."

The body was found at about 2:26 p.m. today by crews who have been searching for Hill since he was reported missing yesterday evening.

Hill, a 24-year-old defensive end and native of New Orleans, was operating jet skis with a young woman on Lake Pontchartrain when they fell into a strong current, said Albert Elias, Hill's agent.

US Coast Guard officials involved in the search said they received a call at about 9:30 p.m. last night reporting screams for help on the lake. People on a boat heard the woman's screams and found her floating on a pylon. After talking with her, they learned that Hill was still in the water.

"They spotted him and then lost sight of him while trying to position the boat," Atkeson said.

The woman was taken to Tulane Medical Center, while Coast Guard rescue boat and helicopter crews searched Lake Pontchartrain near an industrial canal.

"I spoke with the girl and her mother this morning and they said he helped her stay calm. He ended up saving her life, keeping her calm until she could grab onto a buoy,"said Elias said, who added that neither Hill nor the woman was wearing a life preserver.

Patriots teammate Randall Gay of Baton Rouge, who also played with Hill at Lousiana State University, was at the scene when authorities found Hill, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. He said, "I know it's going to be hard in that locker room seeing his locker" when practice resumes Thursday.

The 6-foot-6-inch, 300-pound Hill was a second-round draft choice of the Patriots in 2004, and has served as a backup for his first three seasons, appearing in 13 career games.

Very unfortunate and very preventable death. Dumbass and friend go jet-skiing without life jackets.

It's sad to hear these stories about people (including high-profile athletes) who think they're invincible, and then go out and hurt of kill themselves during "fits" of irresponsibility.

[BlueSky]

I can feel the warmth of your compassionate spirit all the way here in Atlanta.

[slapshot]

I'm not heartless. Just a realist.

Yes, it was an accident.

I can mourn for the families and friends of the deceased.

But the death could have been prevented, and my supply of sympathy tends to be severely depleted in cases of stupidity.

Even with the player being a member of the Patriots, I can put my home team bias aside to see this for what it truly is.

[Fred T. Jane]

Very unfortunate and very preventable death. Dumbass and friend go jet-skiing without life jackets.

Agreed.

Slightly relevant geographic fact of the day

Average depth of Lake Pontchartrain: 7 feet.

[DEAD!]

I'm not heartless. Just a realist.

Yes, it was an accident.

I can mourn for the families and friends of the deceased.

But the death could have been prevented, and my supply of sympathy tends to be severely depleted in cases of stupidity.

Even with the player being a member of the Patriots, I can put my home team bias aside to see this for what it truly is.

... thankfully you don't live near St. Louis.... *runs*

[Milo Meningocele]

I'm not heartless. Just a realist.

Yes, it was an accident.

I can mourn for the families and friends of the deceased.

But the death could have been prevented, and my supply of sympathy tends to be severely depleted in cases of stupidity.

Even with the player being a member of the Patriots, I can put my home team bias aside to see this for what it truly is.

... thankfully you don't live near St. Louis.... *runs*

Yet another thread made 1000x more entertaining just by your posting in it:

Body of Patriots Marquise Hill found

DEAD!

[STL FANATIC]

Thoughts and prayers with Hill's family and the Patriots family.

[FiddySicks]

As someone who grew up on a lake and who is out on skis and boats at least once a week during the summer, you look at wearing a vest in the water like you do a seatbelt in a car. In fact, Lake Tahoe has a law that gives tickets to anyone caught without a vest (Similar to the click it or ticket laws). BUT, I can see where someone who isn't used to water sports wouldn't see it that way. Not excusing his bad judgement, but to call him a complete and total fool I think is a bit over the top.

[patsox]

Hey it was a stupid...yet fatal...mistake. He paid the price, as unfortunate and hard to deal with as that may be for some people. I feel bad, but I still admit it was a dumb and irrational decision. The Patriots and their fans will miss you Marquise.

[slapshot]

As someone who grew up on a lake and who is out on skis and boats at least once a week during the summer, you look at wearing a vest in the water like you do a seatbelt in a car. In fact, Lake Tahoe has a law that gives tickets to anyone caught without a vest (Similar to the click it or ticket laws). BUT, I can see where someone who isn't used to water sports wouldn't see it that way. Not excusing his bad judgement, but to call him a complete and total fool I think is a bit over the top.

Reason #1 perhaps why someone should wear a life jacket.

I stand by my assessment.

And if you ride in a car without a seatbelt, you're a fool there too.

[NJTank]

I cant believe any one would Jet ski without a vest, even the best skiier can wipe out and get a bad bump and get knocked out and be unable to swim for a minute and thats all it takes to drown.

[BlueSky]

I don't disagree it could have been prevented, the initial post was just harsh and judgemental. Who here takes safety precautions in every activity they participate in?

No one know what Marquise Hill's attitude was about safety precautions, but sadly, many people (especially men) see them as unmasculine. A good example might be flak jackets for little league batters. Ever heard of that? Of course not. Well, a former colleague's son was hit in the chest by a pitch. If it hits in the right spot, it can send a kid into cardiac arrest, which is what happened to her son. A fire station was next to the field and paramedics were on scene within 2 minutes but could not revive him. She later found out that a number of kids had died the same way. Her quest became to have protective gear mandated but Little League refused. Their reason? "The kids don't like it, it makes them feel like sissies." Are you kidding? Who's in charge here?

Granted few kids get hurt that way but when we're talking about being dead, even one is too many when it's preventable.

[whitedawg22]

I don't disagree it could have been prevented, the initial post was just harsh and judgemental. Who here takes safety precautions in every activity they participate in?

No one know what Marquise Hill's attitude was about safety precautions, but sadly, many people (especially men) see them as unmasculine. A good example might be flak jackets for little league batters. Ever heard of that? Of course not. Well, a former colleague's son was hit in the chest by a pitch. If it hits in the right spot, it can send a kid into cardiac arrest, which is what happened to her son. A fire station was next to the field and paramedics were on scene within 2 minutes but could not revive him. She later found out that a number of kids had died the same way. Her quest became to have protective gear mandated but Little League refused. Their reason? "The kids don't like it, it makes them feel like sissies." Are you kidding? Who's in charge here?

Granted few kids get hurt that way but when we're talking about being dead, even one is too many when it's preventable.

I get what you're trying to say, but little league players wearing flak jackets is an entirely ridiculous comparison. That would be attempting to protect against something (getting hit in the right spot, leading to cardiac arrest) that happens at most a few times per year across the country. Meanwhile, jet skiing without a life jacket is just plain stupid. Anyone who has ever jet skiied knows that every time you go out, you stand a decent chance of getting thrown off at high speeds. That might be part of the thrill, but I know people who have been stunned and knocked out before after being thrown from PWCs. Without life jackets on, they probably would have drowned.

It's impossible to protect against all the low-probability dangers people face in life - if you tried you'd probably either go nuts or never leave the house. But not wearing a life jacket on a jet ski IS really, really, ridiculously dumb, particularly in an area with strong currents.

[Audiodrama]

Granted, not wearing life jackets was incredibly stupid. But I think some people are overlooking the fact that this guy still sacrificed his life to make sure this girl was safe. That, if nothing else, should earn our respect.

[BlueSky]

I don't disagree it could have been prevented, the initial post was just harsh and judgemental. Who here takes safety precautions in every activity they participate in?

No one know what Marquise Hill's attitude was about safety precautions, but sadly, many people (especially men) see them as unmasculine. A good example might be flak jackets for little league batters. Ever heard of that? Of course not. Well, a former colleague's son was hit in the chest by a pitch. If it hits in the right spot, it can send a kid into cardiac arrest, which is what happened to her son. A fire station was next to the field and paramedics were on scene within 2 minutes but could not revive him. She later found out that a number of kids had died the same way. Her quest became to have protective gear mandated but Little League refused. Their reason? "The kids don't like it, it makes them feel like sissies." Are you kidding? Who's in charge here?

Granted few kids get hurt that way but when we're talking about being dead, even one is too many when it's preventable.

I get what you're trying to say, but little league players wearing flak jackets is an entirely ridiculous comparison. That would be attempting to protect against something (getting hit in the right spot, leading to cardiac arrest) that happens at most a few times per year across the country. Meanwhile, jet skiing without a life jacket is just plain stupid. Anyone who has ever jet skiied knows that every time you go out, you stand a decent chance of getting thrown off at high speeds. That might be part of the thrill, but I know people who have been stunned and knocked out before after being thrown from PWCs. Without life jackets on, they probably would have drowned.

It's impossible to protect against all the low-probability dangers people face in life - if you tried you'd probably either go nuts or never leave the house. But not wearing a life jacket on a jet ski IS really, really, ridiculously dumb, particularly in an area with strong currents.

My intent wasn't to compare the two, it was to illustrate how a cavalier attitude towards safety is established as kids are growing up. You're right about life jackets being a very obvious precaution, as are bike helmets, but many people don't wear them. My wife agrees with the "Darwin at work" theory and it's hard to argue against it when people are hurt or killed because they fail to take even basic safety measures.

And BTW, "at most a few times a year around the country" is way too many if it's your child who dies from something that could have been prevented. Little League should at least give parents the information and allow them to choose whether their child wears chest-protective gear while batting.

[JH42XCC]

This is really sad. For the 3rd time this year, an active NFL player has died (along with Darrent Williams and Damien Nash, both of whom are Denver Broncos).

[rams80]

This is really sad. For the 3rd time this year, an active NFL player has died (along with Darrent Williams and Damien Nash, both of whom are Denver Broncos).

Wouldn't the past tense be more appropriate?

Thoughts and prayers for his family.