How much water did you drink… A man in his 50s died of water poisoning
Mar 20, 2025
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Sean O'Donnell, 59, of Dublin, England, died of fatal 'water poisoning' after drinking a large amount of water on the recommendation of medical staff after receiving treatment at a hospital, according to the British media Daily Mail.
Water poisoning is an poisoning symptom caused by a low blood sodium concentration and an increase in the amount of water in the cell due to excessive water intake for a short time, causing swelling and seizures, and in severe cases, it can be fatal.
Experts warn that just drinking 1.4 liters (about 6 cups) of water an hour can cause water poisoning.
Some studies have shown that one in four patients with water poisoning die from hyponatremia.
Hyponatremia can put a strain on the body organs, especially the kidneys, when too much water is consumed in a short period of time. The kidneys filter out unnecessary water and waste products and send them out into the urine, and abnormal symptoms may appear as the kidneys, which are responsible for preserving sodium concentration, do not function properly.
O'Donnell, who underwent regular procedures at St Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin, was advised by medics to drink plenty of water.
The hospital did not confirm how much water he consumed, but he died at 7 p.m. on the same day.
He had a swollen brain before he died and showed symptoms of seizures and cardiac arrest. The cause of death was investigated as hyponatremia caused by water poisoning.
The hospital admitted to violating its duty of care and paid 35,000 euros (about 56 million won) to his family.
In fact, exactly how much water can cause hyponatremia depends on the individual.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises against drinking more than 1.4 liters per hour.
This includes all liquids as well as water.
In addition, some patients with kidney disease may develop hyponatremia even if they drink normal amounts of water.
In some cases, a kidney disease patient who drank 7-8 liters of water during a day was hospitalized. He drank a liter of water every three hours.
People with kidney disease can be dangerous because they cannot quickly expel excess fluid.
Daily water intake varies by gender, age, activity level, and geographic location.
In a study conducted in 2020, the Korean Nutrition Association suggested more than 900 mL per day for men and 600-800 mL for women as appropriate water intake for adolescents to 74 years old.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends daily water intake as a calculated value of 'Weight ×0.03'. It also includes moisture from beverages, fruits, vegetables, and more.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
