[aldo_14]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6261509.stm

A Californian woman who took part in a water-drinking contest to win a video game system has died of water intoxication, tests have shown.  Jennifer Strange had taken part in the "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" game run by KDND 107.9 radio in Sacramento, which promised the winner a Nintendo Wii.

A work colleague said Ms Strange had reported her head was hurting hours after the contest and was going home.  Ms Strange, 28, was found dead on Friday at her house in Rancho Cordova.

Local assistant coroner Ed Smith said initial tests showed death was "consistent with water intoxication". Contestants were first given eight ounce (225 millilitre) bottles to drink every 15 minutes.

Contestant James Ybarra told Associated Press news agency: "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 five bottles but remaining contestants started on larger bottles. "She was telling me about her family and her three kids and how she was doing it for her kids," Mr Ybarra said.

One of Ms Strange's work colleagues, Laura Rios, said: "She said to one of our supervisors that she was on her way home and her head was hurting her real bad. "She was crying and that was the last that anyone had heard from her."

The station said its staff were stunned at the death.

Jennifer Strange?  How appropriate....

[Mefustae]

People dying in an effort to acquire a Wii? Is that good press or bad press?

[kode]

better than killing to get a ps3, I'd say...

[Mefustae]

Okay, so the PS3 has claimed one life so far via the shooting of that dangerous, controller-wielding kid by the brave police. The Wii has claimed one life via this debacle. Has the Xbox360 killed anyone, yet?

[kode]

Okay, so the PS3 has claimed one life so far via the shooting of that dangerous, controller-wielding kid by the brave police. The Wii has claimed one life via this debacle. Has the Xbox360 killed anyone, yet?

yes, my friend died in a fire caused by one.

not.

[WeatherOp]

Okay, so the PS3 has claimed one life so far via the shooting of that dangerous, controller-wielding kid by the brave police. The Wii has claimed one life via this debacle. Has the Xbox360 killed anyone, yet?

You bet, the Halo 3 teaser killed around 20,000.

[Agent_Koopa]

Jeez, that's horrible. I don't understand how anyone could run a water-drinking contest. Don't people know of the dangers of water intoxication?

[Turey]

Jeez, that's horrible. I don't understand how anyone could run a water-drinking contest. Don't people know of the dangers of water intoxication?

It was run by Radio Jocks. What did you expect?

[phreak]

Darwin Award!

[BrotherBryon]

The Darwin award can only be given to those who remove themselves from the gene pool. Ms. Strange left 3 children behind.

[Turey]

those who remove themselves from the gene pole

That's a GREAT euphemism!

[Ghostavo]

Did she win anything at least?

If you are going to die, you might as well win something out of it.

[aldo_14]

Did she win anything at least?

If you are going to die, you might as well win something out of it.

A nice shiny casket.

[vyper]

With wireless controller.

[Ulala]

That is really, really sad! 

[karajorma]

The Darwin award can only be given to those who remove themselves from the gene pool. Ms. Strange left 3 children behind.

They pretty much dropped that restriction years ago on the grounds that it was too difficult to check up on and it was causing them to miss really good stories.

[Flipside]

I find this story pretty depresssing to be honest, it's not so much the fact she didn't know that drinking too much water can kill you, it's the simple fact that parents feel they have to go to these lengths to make their children happy, and that commercial enterprises will encourage and feed off of that need.

If my child was in Danger, I'd surrender my own life to save them, if my child wanted a Wii, they can damn-well get a part time job and earn the money, that's how I got my telescope years ago, and, at the risk of sounding like an old git, it was actually treated like something valuable and worthwhile because of it.

[kode]

back when I was young, if I'd wanted something I had to shoplift it myself.

's how I got my bike. and my criminal record.

[Starkweather]

back when I was young, if I'd wanted something I had to shoplift it myself.

's how I got my bike. and my criminal record.

Heartwarming.

[Agent_Koopa]

Jeez, that's horrible. I don't understand how anyone could run a water-drinking contest. Don't people know of the dangers of water intoxication?

It was run by Radio Jocks. What did you expect?

Of course. How silly of me!