DJs axed after woman dies in Wii water-drinking contest
A Sacramento, Calif., radio station has fired 10 employees after a woman died in a water-drinking contest to win a Nintendo Wii, the Associated Press and other media sources are reporting.
A preliminary autopsy indicated that Jennifer Strange, 28, died from water intoxication after participating in KDND-FM 107.9's on-air "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" contest Friday. The participant who drank the most water without using the bathroom was promised a game console valued at $250.
During the match, contestants were given two minutes to drink an 8-ounce bottle of water, then given another bottle to drink after a 10-minute break.
(Credit:
KDND-FM 107.9)
After drinking two gallons and becoming one of two final participants, according to witness reports, Strange began to feel ill and had to quit. She called in sick to work after the contest, complaining of a bad headache, and about five hours later, her mother found her dead in her Rancho Cordova, Calif., home.
An excess of water in the body can lead to the dilution of vital fluids. That in turn can lead to swelling of the brain, seizures, comas and in some cases death.
John Geary, vice president and general manager of Entercom/Sacramento, the parent company of KDND, sent an e-mail to reporters Tuesday stating that "effective immediately, the 'Morning Rave' program is canceled and 10 employees are no longer with the station."
Among the fired employees were three morning disc jockeys.
Strange, a mother of three, took part in the contest hoping to win the system for her children, according to reports.
Leslie Katz, senior editor of CNET's Crave, covers gadgets, games, and most other digital distractions. As a co-host of the CNET News Daily Podcast, she sometimes tries to channel Terry Gross. E-mail Leslie. 
http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dihydrogen_Monoxide_Hoax
Come on, He made her drink a lot of water, She died from drinking a lot of water. How many people do you know that has died from drinking too much water? HMMMM Me Nobody!! It was a freak accident I'm sure the guy feels bad enough for killing her and now you want to send him to jail. Your a prick ! It's like if I made some eat alot of Burgerking and they died you would want to send me to jail. Get the hell out of here ....
The guy lost his Job for doing a bit The reason they fired him so the family wouldn't sue the company which I'm sure they will anyways, because Us Americans are sue happy.
So quick to sue people. It's sad I know damm! It's a tragedy
The lady did it, she knew, she is dead! Now get over it!
It's people like you that start stupid rules like: If I'm a bartender and I serve someone to much alcohol and they leave my bar and they go and kill someone it's my fault.
Our Jails are way to packed right now for sending some guy to jail that did a Radio bit. Jails are for murders, rapist, Child molesters ,Ect.... Not for a Radio Jocky that does a bit and accidentally kills someone by making them drink to much water. I'm 15 years old and I know what's right and wrong better then you. I thought it was you get wiser with age.
So here we have everyon eand their mother screaming that the DJ's should have "known" that drinking water was an inherently dangerous act.
How many radio station lawyers were fired who personally approved this?
How many radio managers were fired who approved this stunt?
Why isn't anyone screaming the mother who died was "stpuid" for not knowing you could die from drinking water?
C'mon. NO ONE thought it was possible to die from drinking a lot of water.
Everyone who is now acting holier-than-thou needs to stop pretending like they would have known better. You wouldn't have. So just stop.
surely it had to be approved by somone further up ion the company that ultimately made the decision to go forward with it.
because they took part in something their company was telling them to do they get the sack?
very unfair in my opinion
yes it was stupid, yes it should have been passed by a medical professional before being approved - but ultimately i dont think it was the dj's responsible.
corperate ********.
Come on, He made her drink a lot of water, She died from drinking a lot of water. How many people do you know that has died from drinking too much water? HMMMM Me Nobody!! It was a freak accident I'm sure the guy feels bad enough for killing her and now you want to send him to jail. Your a prick ! It's like if I made some eat alot of Burgerking and they died you would want to send me to jail. Get the hell out of here ....
The guy lost his Job for doing a bit The reason they fired him so the family wouldn't sue the company which I'm sure they will anyways, because Us Americans are sue happy.
So quick to sue people. It's sad I know damm! It's a tragedy
The lady did it, she knew, she is dead! Now get over it!
It's people like you that start stupid rules like: If I'm a bartender and I serve someone to much alcohol and they leave my bar and they go and kill someone it's my fault.
Our Jails are way to packed right now for sending some guy to jail that did a Radio bit. Jails are for murders, rapist, Child molesters ,Ect.... Not for a Radio Jocky that does a bit and accidentally kills someone by making them drink to much water. I'm 15 years old and I know what's right and wrong better then you. I thought it was you get wiser with age.
- DJs knew about the dangers of water intoxication
- by thisislovell January 21, 2007 11:03 AM PST
- There have been radio clips found with the DJs talking about the possibly of water intoxication. Someone even called to warn them, and they dismissed her, saying that they weren't responsible because the contestants signed waivers. Irresponsible, yes, illegal, I don't know.
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