NEW ORLEANS (AP) - New England Patriots defensive end Marquise Hill spent much of his free time and his NFL paycheck helping loved ones in New Orleans rebuild in the hurricane-damaged city where he grew up.

However, the former LSU star’s latest visit home for Memorial Day weekend turned tragic when he and a female friend ventured out on Lake Pontchartrain on a jet ski without life vests Sunday night.

The two ended up falling off the water craft in an area of swirling currents near where a major shipping canal runs into the lake. While the woman survived by grabbing a pylon and holding on to it until she was rescued, the 24-year-old Hill, who friends described as a good swimmer, drifted away and disappeared until searchers pulled his body from the water yesterday afternoon.

Loved ones including Hill’s fiancée, Inell Benn, and friends, including Patriots teammate Randall Gay, had waited anxiously along the shoreline during the search and consoled one another when authorities told them Hill was found dead.

"Right now’s a terrible time," Benn said. "I don’t know what to feel right now."

Gay, who also played with Hill at LSU, had planned to spend the holiday weekend in Baton Rouge, La., but drove to New Orleans yesterday to monitor the search.

"Knowing that I have to go back to work and go look at his locker this week, it’s tough," Gay said.

Hill’s body was discovered by searchers about a quarter of a mile from where he fell into the water, said Capt. Brian Clark of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Department.

The Coast Guard was called Sunday night, Petty Officer Tom Atkeson said. The search began immediately, using boats and helicopters.

By the time the body was found, the Coast Guard, Wildlife and Fisheries, the New Orleans Police Department and Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department were involved, Clark said.

Hill played on LSU’s national championship team and was a second-round draft pick by New England in 2004. He had yet to start for the Patriots, playing in 13 games in his NFL career.

The rescued woman, whose identity was not immediately available, was sent to Tulane Medical Center, where she told authorities that Hill had tried to keep her calm as the two were drifting away from each other.

"It’s so important to have a life jacket and a signaling device," Atkeson said. "One keeps you afloat, and the other helps us find you."

Hill’s agent, Albert Elias, said the player spent much of his time since Hurricane Katrina helping rebuild the homes of family members, including his mother, Sherry, and the mother of his 2-year-old son.

After going to the NFL, Hill continued to do much of his off-season training at LSU’s Baton Rouge campus, about 80 miles up the Mississippi River from New Orleans, and was known and admired by current Tigers players, university athletics spokesman Michael Bonnette said.

"His presence meant a lot for some of the younger guys. He gave them someone to look up to, and he was always there for them," Bonnette said. "Here’s a 6-foot-6, 300-pound guy, as intimidating as can be, and yet every time you approached him, he always welcomed you with a big old smile."

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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