A 44-year-old Andrew Thornton from Bradford, West Yorks died after drinking around 10 litres of water in eight hours to soothe pain from gum disease.

Mr. Thornton swallowed five times the suggested daily amount of water and had suffered a heart attack on December 5 last year, as his body rejected the huge intake of fluid.

Andrew’s mother Alice told that he had been vomiting and then drank water on the day he died.

As well as the 10 litres he drank that day, he consumed a similar quantity on each of the previous two days, she added.

Andrew had been suffering from severe gum disease for last 20 years, but refused treatment preferring to take water as it numbed his pain.

The pathologist, Dr. Alan Padwell, said he was overloaded with water.

“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,” Dr. Alan added.

Mrs. Thornton said people must learn from this and be careful.

“Andrew wasn't a stupid man and if he had known how dangerous drinking that much was, he wouldn't have done it," she added.