3 DJs fired after deadly water-drinking contest

California woman competing for a Nintendo Wii died of water intoxication

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DJ fired after drinking contest death
Jan. 17: Sacramento Bee reporter Christina Jewett talks with MSNBC-TV's Norah O'Donnell about the death of a woman after competing in a radio station's water-drinking contest.

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updated 3:58 p.m. ET Jan. 17, 2007

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A radio station fired 10 employees, including its three morning disc jockeys, after a woman died following an on-air water-drinking contest last week.

The hosts of KDND-FM's "Morning Rave" were fired Tuesday, a day after the station said it was suspending the show and investigating the death of Jennifer Lea Strange.

Strange, 28, was one of about 18 contestants who tried to win a Nintendo Wii gaming console by seeing how much water they could drink without going to the bathroom. The show's DJs called the contest "Hold your Wee for a Wii."

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During the contest, participants were given two minutes to drink an 8-ounce bottle of water and then given another bottle to drink after a 10-minute break.

Strange may have drunk nearly two gallons, witnesses said. She appeared ill, one contestant said.

After the contest, Strange called in sick to work. She was found dead at her home about five hours later.

The Sacramento County coroner said preliminary autopsy findings indicated she died of water intoxication.

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Woman dies after water-drinking contest

Drinking large quantities of water rapidly can throw off the body's balance of electrolytes, causing brain swelling and leading to seizures, coma or even death.

Strange had showed fellow contestants photographs of her two sons and daughter, for whom she was hoping to win the Nintendo Wii. The game console sells for about $250.