Woman dies for a Wii
I first heard of this story the other day on RC’s Strange Culture blog. In order to win a much-desired Nintendo Wii gaming console, a woman took part in a competition hosted by a Californian radio station, 107.9 The End (KDND). The objective of the Wii Wee competition: See how much water you can drink without needing to use the toilet. Sounds stupid but harmless, right? Well, this contestant, a mother of three, flooded her body, upsetting its electrolyte balance, and dropped dead.
See Nintendo? This is what happens when you give your consoles silly names!
Anyway, here’s the radio station’s apology/statement on the matter.
And here’s a recent news article on the fallout of the incident:
From: Stuff.co.nz
Ten fired after radio contest death
Reuters | Thursday, 18 January 2007
LOS ANGELES: A California radio station has fired 10 staff members after a contest to drink as much water as possible to win a new Nintendo Wii game console resulted in a woman's death, a company spokesman said today.
Jennifer Strange, 28, a mother of three, died from water intoxication after taking part in a "Hold your wee for a Wii" competition on a morning radio show on Sacramento station KDND-FM on Friday.
She was one of about 20 contestants who tried to outdrink each other without going to the toilet and was reported to have drunk about six litres of water in a bid to win the Wii for her children. She was the runner-up.
After the contest she called in sick at work and was found dead at her home about five hours later.
A spokesman for the station's parent company, Entercom/Sacramento, said 10 staff members, including several on-air DJs, had been fired from the station over the incident.
"They are no longer with the company for violating the terms of their employment agreements with the station," said the spokesman, without elaborating on contract details.
"This is part of an ongoing, thorough investigation."
Local newspapers said the Sacramento county coroner had yet to rule as to cause of death but said Strange's death was "consistent with a water intoxication death."
In an online recording of the show, the DJs can be heard making comments joking about people dying from water intoxication, even discussing a case in Northern California two years ago in which student Matthew Carrington, 21, died after drinking too much water during a fraternity pledge.
One of the DJs even admitted they maybe should have done some research before the contest.
One female caller, who identified herself as Eva, also phoned in to warn the radio station that drinking too much water can kill.
For some of the ominous comments made during the radio broadcast, click here for the USAToday article.
See Nintendo? This is what happens when you give your consoles silly names!
Anyway, here’s the radio station’s apology/statement on the matter.
And here’s a recent news article on the fallout of the incident:
From: Stuff.co.nz
Ten fired after radio contest death
Reuters | Thursday, 18 January 2007
LOS ANGELES: A California radio station has fired 10 staff members after a contest to drink as much water as possible to win a new Nintendo Wii game console resulted in a woman's death, a company spokesman said today.
Jennifer Strange, 28, a mother of three, died from water intoxication after taking part in a "Hold your wee for a Wii" competition on a morning radio show on Sacramento station KDND-FM on Friday.
She was one of about 20 contestants who tried to outdrink each other without going to the toilet and was reported to have drunk about six litres of water in a bid to win the Wii for her children. She was the runner-up.
After the contest she called in sick at work and was found dead at her home about five hours later.
A spokesman for the station's parent company, Entercom/Sacramento, said 10 staff members, including several on-air DJs, had been fired from the station over the incident.
"They are no longer with the company for violating the terms of their employment agreements with the station," said the spokesman, without elaborating on contract details.
"This is part of an ongoing, thorough investigation."
Local newspapers said the Sacramento county coroner had yet to rule as to cause of death but said Strange's death was "consistent with a water intoxication death."
In an online recording of the show, the DJs can be heard making comments joking about people dying from water intoxication, even discussing a case in Northern California two years ago in which student Matthew Carrington, 21, died after drinking too much water during a fraternity pledge.
One of the DJs even admitted they maybe should have done some research before the contest.
One female caller, who identified herself as Eva, also phoned in to warn the radio station that drinking too much water can kill.
For some of the ominous comments made during the radio broadcast, click here for the USAToday article.
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