Mum dies from water toxicity after drinking nearly 2 litres in 20 minutes
A mum-of-two died of water toxicity after drinking around two litres of water over 20 minutes during a day out with her family.
Ashley Summers, 35, had been enjoying a long fourth of July weekend at Lake Freeman in Indiana, in the US, with her husband and two children when she developed a headache and felt lightheaded – symptoms of dehydration.
As the family were returning by boat from a sandbank on the final day of the trip, which was particularly hot, she said she ‘couldn’t get enough water’ and drank four bottles – thought to be 500ml each – over 20 minutes to quench her thirst.
When Ms Summers returned home, she collapsed in her garage, having suffered severe brain swelling. She was rushed to hospital but later died.
The doctors at the hospital diagnosed her with water toxicity, also known as hyponatremia, which happens when there is too much water in the body and not enough sodium.
Ms Summer’s brother Devon Miller told WRTV he and the rest of her family were in disbelief when they heard what had happened.
He said: ‘It was a big shock to us all. I was just like, this is a thing?
‘She just felt like she couldn’t get enough water… When they left the sand bar to when they got to the dock, it was about a 20 minute boat ride… she drank four bottles of water in that 20 minutes.’
The family had been staying at Lake Freeman, a popular holiday destination around 80 miles north of Indianapolis, from Saturday, July 1 until Tuesday, July 4.
Ms Summers, a daycare worker, loved being on the water, said Mr Miller.
He explained on the Tuesday evening he received a call from his other sister, who ‘was an absolute wreck’ and told him Ms Summers had collapsed in their garage and taken to Indiana University Health Arnett Hospital.
She said their sibling had brain swelling, that medics didn’t know how they could get it to go down and it was ‘not looking good’.
Ms Summers never regained consciousness.
Water toxicity is rare but can happen when someone drinks an excessive amount of water in a short period of time.
The large amount of water overwhelms the ability of the body’s complex organ systems, especially the kidneys, to regulate the balance of fluids.
Ideally the body needs an equilibrium between water and electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and chloride, which ensures proper cell function.
Sodium is especially important for its ability to maintain communication between cells via electrical impulses.
Sodium also helps absorb nutrients in the digestive system and the kidneys, which adjusts the amount of water and electrolytes reabsorbed into the bloodstream or excreted through urine.
Dr Blake Froberg, a toxicologist at the hospital where Ms Summers was treated, recommends ‘making sure that you’re drinking things that have electrolytes and sodium and some potassium’ to avoid water toxicity.
He said it’s most likely to occur during hot weather or if someone works outside or exercises regularly.
Symptoms of water toxicity include muscle cramps and spasms, drowsiness, nausea, headaches, confusion and, in severe cases, seizures and loss of consciousness.
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