Ashley Summers, a 35-year-old mother of two from the US state of Indiana, had lost her life after drinking too much water in a short time due to a little-known and unexpected health concern known as water toxicity.The bizarre incident unfolded after a relatively joyful Fourth of July outing for Ashley Summers with her two daughters, Brooklyn and Brynlee, on Lake Freeman. As temperatures soared, Ashley, feeling dehydrated, quickly consumed four bottled waters within a short span of time in an attempt to alleviate her discomfort. Unfortunately, this innocent act had dire consequences leading to her demise.Ashleys uncle, Deon Miller, recounted the ordeal faced by the Summers family as they attempted to revive Ashley. Speaker to the news outlet New York Post, Deon described how Ashleys husband, Cody, swiftly administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and while there was a glimmer of hope initially after her vitals responded positively, the damage was irreparable.Ashleys brain had swollen uncontrollably, leading to irreversible harm and, ultimately, her untimely death.Happens much more often than people realize. Too much pure water desalinates your body.— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 4, 2023“My sister, Holly, called me, and she was just an absolute wreck. She was like Ashley is in the hospital. She has brain swelling, they dont know whats causing it, they dont know what they can do to get it to go down, and its not looking good,” Ashleys brother Devon Miller told New York Post.The revelation of water toxicity as the cause of death left the family stunned and confused. Water toxicity – a relatively unknown condition – results from the consumption of excessive amounts of water in a short period.“Someone said she drank four bottles of water in 20 minutes. I mean, an average water bottle is like 16 ounces, so that was 64 ounces that she drank in a span of 20 minutes. Thats half a gallon. Thats what youre supposed to drink in a whole day,” Devon said.In Ashleys case, she unknowingly ingested an astounding 64 ounces – almost two litres – of water in the quick timespan of 20 minutes. The amount of water consumed by Ashley is usually recommended for the entire day.What is water toxicity Find out…Water toxicity, also known as water intoxication, occurs when an individual consumes an unusually large amount of water within a short time. This overwhelms the kidneys capacity to process and eliminate the excess water, resulting in a dangerous dilution of electrolytes, particularly sodium.Symptoms of water toxicity may include nausea, headaches, cramps, seizures, brain swelling, and in severe cases, even death. The condition arises when the kidneys struggle to manage a sudden influx of water, potentially disrupting the bodys sodium balance.Maintaining a balanced fluid intake is vital to avoid water toxicity and ensure the overall well-being of oneself.The kidneys can process only 0.8 to 1.0 litres of water per hour, and consuming an excessive amount of water can upset the bodys electrolyte equilibrium, according to medical reports.When an individual drinks an excessive amount of water, it triggers an electrolyte imbalance known as water toxicity, water intoxication, or water poisoning. In extreme cases, this condition can pose serious risks, even proving fatal.A study conducted in 2013 revealed that the kidneys can eliminate approximately 20 to 28 litres of water daily. To prevent hyponatremia – a condition caused by low sodium levels – it is crucial not to exceed the kidneys capacity by consuming more water than they can effectively process.While the study does not provide an exact time frame, it suggests that symptoms of hyponatremia may develop if a person consumes three to four litres of water within a short period.