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BGW
Jan 14, 2007, 01:51 PM
Woman dies of water intoxication after radio contest
Associated Press
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WATER_INTOXICATI...OME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT (http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WATER_INTOXICATION?SITE=WSAW&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT)
Sacramento, Calif. — A woman who competed in a radio station's contest to see how much water she could drink without going to the bathroom died of water intoxication, the coroner's office said Saturday.

Jennifer Strange, 28, was found dead Friday in her suburban Rancho Cordova home hours after taking part in the “Hold Your Wee for a Wii” contest in which KDND 107.9 promised a Nintendo Wii video game system for the winner.

“She said to one of our supervisors that she was on her way home and her head was hurting her real bad,” said Laura Rios, one of Ms. Strange's co-workers at Radiological Associates of Sacramento. “She was crying and that was the last that anyone had heard from her.”

It was not immediately know how much water Strange consumed.

A preliminary investigation found evidence “consistent with a water intoxication death,” said assistant Coroner Ed Smith.

John Geary, vice president and marketing manager for Entercom Sacramento, the station's owner, said station personnel were stunned when they heard of Ms. Strange's death.

“We are awaiting information that will help explain how this tragic event occurred,” he said.

Initially, contestants were handed eight-ounce bottles of water to drink every 15 minutes.

“They were small little half-pint bottles, so we thought it was going to be easy,” said fellow contestant James Ybarra of Woodland. “They told us if you don't feel like you can do this, don't put your health at risk.”

Mr. Ybarra said he quit after drinking five bottles. “My bladder couldn't handle it any more,” he added.

After he quit, he said, the remaining contestants, including Ms. Strange, were given even bigger bottles to drink.

“I was talking to her and she was a nice lady,” Mr. Ybarra said. “She was telling me about her family and her three kids and how she was doing it for kids.”
Yosemite_Wolf
Jan 14, 2007, 08:48 PM
Do I smell lawsuit? I hope that the radio station had the
ppl sign liability waivers... not that they would hold up in court (IMHO). I mean.. do you have to be STUPID to do such a contest? I mean... our bladders have muscles and nerves for certain reasons...... they tell us when to pee!
(cept in the cases of RNs who go for 12 hours with out peeing on some shifts... been there done that.... ugh thats when you know youve been busy!)
beautiful_mess38
Jan 15, 2007, 08:27 AM
I heard that on the news last night. Wonder whats going to happen.
Newcomer
Jan 18, 2007, 03:17 PM
Three DJs fired after woman dies following water-drinking contest
By AARON DAVIS, Associated Press Writer

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

(01-16) 17:36 PST SACRAMENTO, (AP) --


A Sacramento area radio station fired 10 employees Tuesday, including three morning disc jockeys, after a mother of three died following an on-air water-drinking contest last week at the station's studios.


The hosts of KDND-FM's "Morning Rave" — who go by the on-air names Trish, Maney and Lukas — were fired a day after the station announced it was suspending the show and investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Jennifer Lea Strange.


Strange, 28, died after participating in a water-drinking contest on the program.


She was one of about 18 contestants who tried to win a Nintendo Wii gaming console early Friday by seeing how much water they could drink without going to the bathroom. The show's DJs called the contest "Hold your Wee for a Wii."


John Geary, vice president and general manager of KDND parent company, Entercom/Sacramento, made the announcement Tuesday in an e-mail to reporters.


"Effective immediately, the 'Morning Rave' program is canceled and ten employees are no longer with the station."


A company spokesman, Charles Sipkins, confirmed the three DJs, as well as two other on-air personalities, "Carter" and "Fester," were among those fired. Five other employees who worked on the "Morning Rave" also were let go. All 10 were fired, the spokesman said, for violating terms of their employee agreements.


The "Morning Rave" had been on the air for about five years and was one of the capital's top-ranked morning drive programs.


During the contest, participants were given two minutes to drink an 8-ounce bottle of water and then given another bottle to drink after a 10-minute break.


Fellow contestant James Ybarra said he quit drinking after imbibing eight bottles, but Strange, who placed second, and others kept going even after they were handed even larger containers.


In all, according to witness reports, Strange may have drunk nearly two gallons. Afterward, she appeared ill when she went on the air, one contestant said.


Following the contest, Strange called in sick to work. About five hours later she was found dead at her home.


The Sacramento County coroner said preliminary autopsy findings indicated she died of water intoxication.


Drinking large quantities of water rapidly can throw off the body's balance of electrolytes, causing brain swelling and leading to seizures, coma, or even death.


In February 2005, a Chico State University student died after drinking too much water in a hazing incident at a fraternity. Matthew Carrington was forced to repeatedly drink from a 5-gallon jug and then do calisthenics.


In that case, one fraternity member pleaded guilty to felony involuntary manslaughter and two others pleaded guilty to being accessories to manslaughter, among other charges.


Sgt. Tim Curran, spokesman for the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, which would have jurisdiction over the KDND incident, said officers are not investigating Strange's death.


"It was a contest and people are saying there was no coercion. On its face, it appears it was all done voluntarily, and no criminal activity was involved," Curran said.


In the studio, Ybarra said Strange showed fellow contestants photographs of her two sons and daughter, for whom she was hoping to win the Nintendo Wii. The game console retails for about $250

Listen to Audio of the contest here (http://www.sacbee.com/static/newsroom/kdndslides/)
BGW
Jan 18, 2007, 04:42 PM
Watching ABC30 reporting on this right now. And...as predicted the family will be filing a law suit. The audio is disturbing...
Yosemite_Wolf
Jan 19, 2007, 11:57 AM
id support the DJs if they had listened to the preview calls.....
but ****.. anyone should know that drinking too much water wif out peeing is BAD