A distressing incident unfolded on American radio when two hosts were caught laughing as a contestant died from water intoxication during a live show, while trying to win a Nintendo Wii for her children.

Jennifer Strange, 28, took part in KDND-FM 107.9's Morning Rave programme on January 12, 2007, aiming to secure the sought-after gaming console for her three children, just months after its release.

The 'Hold Your Pee for a Wii' contest required participants to drink large amounts of water without going to the loo, with the last person standing winning the Nintendo Wii.

Starting at 6:45am, Jennifer joined 17 other contestants drinking 240ml bottles every 15 minutes at the KDND premises in Sacramento, California, with water intake increasing as the competition progressed.

During the broadcast, Jennifer expressed her discomfort, saying, "My head hurts. They keep telling me that it's the water... that it will tell my head to hurt and it'll make me puke," leading a host to sarcastically retort, "Who told you that, the intern?", reports the Daily Record.

The presenters continued to ridicule the situation, commenting on Jennifer's bloated belly, chuckling, "She looks pregnant," and adding, "This is so funny."

After consuming an astonishing 7.6 litres of water and finishing in second place, Jennifer called a workmate explaining she was in unbearable pain and couldn't make her shift.

Devastatingly, her mother discovered her lifeless body at their residence just an hour later.

During the legal action pursued by Jennifer's family, it emerged that several listeners of the programme, including a nurse, had tried to stop the prank by warning the DJs about the potential dangers.

Eva Brooks voiced her concerns, stating: "Those people that are drinking all that water can get sick and possibly die from water intoxication," but was informed by the show they "were aware of that" and that contestants had signed releases absolving the station of any responsibility.

Despite these warnings, the competition proceeded, with the volume of water consumed escalating as the event progressed.

The Strange family's solicitor, Roger Dreyer, contested assertions that Jennifer had signed any liability waiver, pointing out that the radio station couldn't present such a document in court.

She had merely agreed to a form authorising the use of the contest for promotional purposes.

Following Jennifer's tragic demise, The Morning Rave broadcast was swiftly taken off air, and the station was ordered to pay her family $16.5million in damages for wrongful death. No criminal charges were brought in relation to the incident.

Her husband, William Strange, lamented on Good Morning America, saying: "It was a preventable thing," whilst Dreyer remarked: "She acted based upon the information she had."