Water Challenge: Brain Complications

In January 2007, Jennifer Strange, a 28-year-old mother of three from California, tragically lost her life after participating in a water drinking contest held by Sacramento radio station KDND-FM. The competition, dubbed "Hold Your Wee for a Wii," challenged contestants to drink as much water as they could without urinating to win a Nintendo Wii gaming console. Despite complaints of pain during the contest, including remarks about feeling unwell made by Strange herself to the radio hosts, the event continued. Even listeners called in to express their concerns about the risks of water intoxication, but the DJs dismissed them by claiming that contestants had signed releases absolving the station of responsibility.

Strange consumed nearly two gallons of water over three hours before leaving the contest as the runner-up. Tragically, she passed away in her bathroom just hours later. Despite attempts to shift blame onto Strange for participating, her attorney emphasized that she acted based on the information available to her and called the jury's verdict a "vindication for Jennifer." The subsequent wrongful death lawsuit resulted in a $16.5 million compensation award against Entercom Sacramento LLC, the radio station's parent company, holding them liable for their employees' actions.