A 44-year-old man died after drinking 9.6 liters of water in eight hours, the equivalent of four-and- a-half soda bottles, London’s Daily Mail reported Tuesday.

Andrew Thornton, of Bradford, England, was drinking the cold water to relieve his sore gums, which were brought on by gum disease, according to an inquest.

Thornton drank the water to avoid taking painkillers, said his mother, Alice, 65.

After collapsing at home, doctors thought he was drunk because he was staggering and slurring his words. They said his symptoms were brought on by an excess of fluid in the brain.

Thornton was given salt to counteract the effects of the water, but he had a fatal heart attack the next day.

“He claimed drinking water relieved the problems with gum trouble, although he vomited a lot afterwards,” said pathologist Dr. Alan Padwell.

Click here to read the full story from the Daily Mail.