Bruce Lee actually died from drinking too much water, say researchers

Bruce Lee was a pop culture icon. The actor and martial artist quickly became one of the most recognisable faces of the 20th century. Born in 1940, Lee began his career as a child actor in the Hong Kong film industry before moving to the US at the age of 19. There, Lee began teaching martial arts to some pretty high profile students including Chuck Norris and Sharon Tate.

When most of us think of Bruce Lee though, our minds probably drift to his stint as an actor. I’m talking about films like Enter The Dragon, Fist of Fury, and Way of the Dragon. Unfortunately, Lee tragically passed away in 1973 at the age of just 32. Now, almost 49 years later, researchers have more insight into Lee’s untimely death.

Lee first collapsed on 10 May, 1973. A series of seizures and headaches resulted in doctors diagnosing the actor with cerebral edema - a build up of fluid in the brain - but this was treated. Later on 10 July, 1973, Lee complained of headaches at a friend’s apartment. Lee was given a painkiller and went for a lie down. After some time, it was noticed that Lee was unresponsive so doctors were called but the actor was later pronounced dead at the scene.

There was severe swelling in Lee’s brain but the autopsy also revealed that the actor may have had an allergic reaction to one of the ingredients of the painkiller. Now though, researchers believe that Lee may have died from drinking too much water. As reported by NME, scientists from the Clinical Kidney Journal have put forth the argument that Lee’s brain swelling was caused by hyponatremia.

“In other words, we propose that the kidney’s inability to excrete excess water killed Bruce Lee,” they wrote. They pointed out that Lee’s diet included lots of juices and protein drinks. The actor was also known to use marijuana which intensifies thirst. They continued, “Lee had multiple risk factors predisposing to hyponatraemia resulting from interference with water homeostasis mechanisms that regulate both water intake and water excretion.”

“Ironically, Lee made famous the quote ‘Be water my friend’, but excess water appears to have ultimately killed him,” they concluded.