'death by water?

[Guest guest]

Sorry I don't have the original source for this.

Comments anyone?

A middle-aged man died from drinking vast amounts of cold

water to relieve pain from gum disease, an inquest heard.

Thornton, 44, dangerously 'overloaded' his body on water after

drinking 10 litres in eight hours on the day he died.

He had also been drinking at a similar rate for the previous two days

as it helped to numb his mouth.

The divorcee thought he was being sensible by refusing to take

painkillers and had no idea he was risking his life by drinking

excessively.

He was taken to hospital last December after collapsing at home and

doctors initially thought he was drunk on alcohol because he was

staggering and slurring his words.

In reality the symptoms were caused by the excess water causing

swelling in the brain.

Doctors put salt back into his body in an attempt to counter the

effects of his huge water intake, but the following day he suffered a

fatal heart attack.

Pathologist Dr Alan Padwell told the Halifax inquest: 'He claimed

drinking water relieved the problems with gum trouble, though he

vomited a lot afterwards.

'He had been drinking an awful lot of water and vomiting. He had

overloaded with water. Your body tells you how much you need. Eat and

drink normally and your body will regulate itself.'

Coroner Mark Hinchliffe recorded a verdict of death by misadventure and

concluded Mr Thornton died of a heart attack triggered by

overconsumption of water.

[unquote]

J. Pedersen DC