BOSTON -- The family of New England Patriots defensive end Marquise Hill was mourning Tuesday after rescue crews found his body in Louisiana's Lake Ponchartrain following a jet ski accident Sunday.

Hill was riding a jet ski with a woman when they were thrown from the craft. He urged her to remain calm and told her to swim to a nearby piling, but he was swept away by a strong current. She was rescued by a passing boater, but the 6 foot 6 inch, 300 pound player, fighting 2-foot swells, went under.

NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that some Patriots players have already headed to New Orleans to be with Hill's family.

Hill was young at 24, and had only been with the Patriots for a few years. He had played in 13 games. Hill played on LSU's national championship team and was a second-round draft pick by New England in 2004.

Hill and his fiance, Inell Benn, have a son who will be 2 years-old in August.

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

Patriots owner Robert Kraft released a statement saying, "Marquise was always eager to contribute to the team, both on the field and in the community."

"All he did was joke, all the time. Always just wanted to make people laugh and that's how I think everybody will remember him," said Patriots player Randall Gay, who played college ball with Hill at Louisiana State University.

"This is one incident where the life jacket definitely could have saved a life. The victim was definitely not wearing a life jacket," U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Tom Atkeson said.

Hill had just rebuilt his mother Sherry's New Orleans home, which was nearly destroyed in Hurricane Katrina.

"From what I hear, he's done a lot to help with things after Katrina and I know he had a great passion for the city of New Orleans," said former LSU quarterback Matt Mauck, who was Hill's teammate at LSU. "Off field he was a really kind person, kind of like a gentle giant. And not only for LSU, but for New England and everyone who got a chance to meet him throughout his life, everyone has to be extremely saddened and disappointed to hear the news."

"Just pray for his family, his kid, and the rest of his family, that they can move on," Gay said.