The nurse who initially took the prank call by an Australian radio duo and put it through to the Duchess of Cambridge’s hospital room has been found dead after apparently committing suicide.
The Times reports:
William and Kate leaving the hospital before news broke about the death of nurse Jacintha SaldanhaJacintha Saldanha, 46, was found unconscious at an address near the private Central London hospital at around 9.30am this morning. Paramedics were unable to revive her and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Her family said tonight that they were “deeply saddened “deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved Jacintha”.
According to press reports:
Greig said “Oh hello there. Could I please speak to Kate please, my granddaughter.”
Mrs Saldanha replied “Oh yes, just hold on ma’am” and put the presenters through to another duty nurse who was caring for the Duchess.
The duty nurse, who believed she was speaking to the Queen, then gave private information about the Duchess’ medical condition.
The ‘joke’ made global headlines, and now the radio host’s are being widely criticised. However the incident did prompt the hospital to review it’s telephone protocol.
A spokesman for the Royal couple has released the following statement saying that they were “deeply saddened to learn of the death of Jacintha….(and) their thoughts and prayers are with her family at this very sad time”.
SCA, owners of the radio station that broadcast the prank, have released the following statement:
Tim Burrows, the publisher/editor of leading Australian media website Mumbrealla argues that the radio duo don’t have blood on their hands over nurse’s suicide. It’s more complicated than that. You can read Tim Burrow’s commentary on Mumbrella in full here and we highly recommend you do.
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Top Comments
It is always a tragic thing when somebody takes their own life! And I feel for her family!!! BUT blaming the D.J's for this is un acceptable the radio station has been doing this for years and a lot of the pranks are halarious, no one could have foreseen this event. The hospital staff were the last people to see her and even they did not foresee her committing suicide (THEY ARE TRAINED TO KNOW DEPRESSION) yes it went too far but it would have blown over if it was not for the hypocritical pomme media laying accusations about the damage that was coursed and the retaliation that may follow...
AUSTRALIANS are great people and yes we do love a good joke! What happened was not the fault of the prank it was the fault of how far the leeching pomme media took it! The two D.J's now have to live with this tragedy on their conciences until they die and that is not fair on anyone.. She killed HERSELF
It was a reasonably harmless (if ill thought through prank). However, the faux horror of the British tabloid press 'The Palace will want answers, there will be fireworks' etc is what will have sent that nurse over the edge. A normal (possibly fragile) woman in a caring profession vs the vitriol of Daily Mail hacks is an un fair fight. Blood on the newspapers hands, not the DJs