News.blog: DJs axed over Wii death

A Sacramento, California radio station has sacked ten 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 on Friday. The participant who drank the most water without going to the toilet was promised a games console valued at $250.

During the match, contestants were given two minutes to drink an 235ml bottle of water, then given another bottle to drink after a ten-minute break.

After drinking 7.5 litres and becoming one of two final participants, according to witness reports, Strange began to feel ill and had to stop. 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, California 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 email to reporters on Tuesday stating that "effective immediately, the 'Morning Rave' programme is cancelled and ten employees are no longer with the station."

Among the sacked 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.