$16m for family of Nintendo Wii Mom who died, “Holding her Wee for a Wii”

October 30, 2009 by Baby Chums
Filed under: News, Weird

The family of Jennifer Strange, a mother of three aged 28, who died after drinking seven litres of water in a radio contest for a Nintendo Wii has been awarded $16million in compensation for their loss.

The mother died of acute water intoxication after the challenge to see which contestant could drink the most water without having to wee. The competition prompted Jennifer Strange to force herself to drink 7.5 litres of water trying to win a Nintendo Wii.

A jury in California decided that the operator of KDND-FM radio, was liable for Jennifer Strange’s death after ignoring warnings, given during the contest by a show host and a listener, that the consequences of drinking too much water could be fatal.

Joking on air that she “looked pregnant again”, Jennifer later complained of a headache and upset stomach. She was discovered dead that afternoon.

The Radio station fired 10 employees after the death, arguing during the trial that Ms Strange should have known the contest could be dangerous.

Nearly all deaths related to water intoxication in normal individuals have resulted either from water drinking contests, in which individuals attempt to consume high amounts of water, or long bouts of intensive exercise during which electrolytes are not properly replenished, yet excessive amounts of fluid are still consumed.