Bruce Lee famously said, ‘Be the water, my friend,’ but too much water seems to have killed him in the end, researchers say.
Many speculated that the Chinese action star Bruce Lee died in 1973 of a substance overdose, however, according to new evidence, he probably just died of an overdose of… water!
The legendary martial arts expert died in Hong Kong on July 20, 1973, aged just 32, of cerebral edema – and a team of doctors now say water is the cause.
“We believe that the weakness of the kidney to excrete excess water killed Bruce Lee,” the researchers write in the upcoming issue of the Clinical Kidney Journal. “It’s a tragic irony, Lee made famous the saying ‘Be water, my friend’ – but too much water seems to have killed him in the end,” they say.
In the 1970s doctors thought the brain swelling was due to a painkiller, but almost half a century after the iconic ‘Enter the Dragon’ star died, research suggests he likely died of hyponatremia – low sodium in the blood, the which can be caused by too much water or fluid in the body, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The findings of the researchers are far from the conspiracy scenarios for the death of Bruce Lee, such as that murdered by gangsterswas poisoned by a jealous lover, or even that he was the victim of a curse.
Scientists argue that there were many risk factors for Lee to develop hyponatremia, including high fluid intake, as there were many factors that could increase thirst – such as marijuana use, but also factors that weakened the kidney’s ability to excrete water – such as the use of prescription drugs, alcohol and a previous history of kidney damage.
Lee’s wife, Linda, once mentioned that the actor’s diet was based on “carrot and apple juice”. Matthew Pauly, author of the 2018 book Bruce Lee: A Life, has repeatedly referred to Lee’s large water intake during the fateful day of his death.
“I think we drank some water… (…) After a few sips he seemed a little dizzy… When he was starting to pass out, Bruce complained of a headache,” Pauly wrote in the book.
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
