In Radioland, Another Water-Intoxication Case

I'm working on a story for Wired News about the Sacramento radio station's "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" contest that led to a woman's death. Among other things, the story will look at how the scandal reflects recent changes in the radio industry.

The story should be posted later today or Wednesday.

In the latest bit of news, a California newspaper is reporting that the late Jennifer Strange, 28, is not the first person to fall seriously ill during a radio station water-drinking contest.

During a radio contest in Victorville, northeast of Los Angeles, contestantDave Gross "drank the equivalent of nearly eight 24-ounce bottles ofwater" in order to win a pool table from "Y-102," a Clear Channel station.
He apparently suffered from water intoxication:

…“They build [sic] it as a bladder-buster contest. It becomes ablow-your-stomach-up contest… [Gross] said after the contest it tookall he had to make it to the parking lot before throwing up. During hisdrive home his symptoms became worse, including a headache and blurredvision.

His wife called Kaiser Permanente, their health group, which advisedthem to immediately go to the nearest hospital.
“I was monitored all day and they took a lot of blood,” Gross said.
“I’m a landscaper and am used to drinking a lot of Gatorade. I think mybody was able to deal with it.”

Gross said the pool table was anything but free. Between lost wages,
hospital bills and a major health scare, he paid for it dearly.

Deadly radio stunt had local connection [Daily Press]