Nurse Jacintha Saldanha killed herself after falling for prank (
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The DJs who tricked a London nurse into patching through a prank phone call to her colleague caring for Kate Middleton won’t be fired — and their boss even painted them as victims.
“This is a tragic event that could not have been reasonably foreseen and we’re deeply saddened by it,” said Rhys Holleran, the CEO of Southern Cross Austereo, which owns 2Day FM.
“I spoke to both presenters early this morning and it’s fair to say they’re completely shattered,” he said today in Melbourne, adding that the pair had been offered counseling.
“These people aren’t machines, they’re human beings. We’re all affected by this,” he said.
Jacintha Saldanha, 46, was found dead yesterday after she transferred the call from the shock jocks posing as the Queen and Prince Charles, to the nurse attending to the Kate Middleton, the Dutchess of Cambridge, who was being treated for morning sickness.
That nurse — who has not been identified — gave up sensitive information about Middleton’s state to the snickering jockeys.
Scotland Yard has reached out to Aussie cops, who want to interview DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian over the death, which was classified as “unexplained.”
Greig and Christian were in hiding as the King Edward VII hospital ripped into the pair, saying the prank resulted in “the humiliation of two dedicated and caring nurses who were simply doing their job tending to their patients. The longer term consequence has been reported around the world and is, frankly, tragic beyond words.”
Saldanha’s husband mourned her loss on Facebook.
“I am devastated with the tragic loss of my beloved wife Jacintha in tragic circumstances, She will be laid to rest in Shirva, India.”
Their 14-year-old daughter Lisha also posted, ‘I miss you, I loveeee you,” on Facebook.
Saldanha’s inlaws in Mangalore, India said she did not say anything about the pranks.
“Benedict used to call every day but he nor Jacintha said anything about what had happened. Everything seemed normal,” said her mother-in-law Carmine Saldanha, 69, according to Indian media.
“We got a call last night from Benedict informing us that Jacintha had died. He was crying and couldn’t speak much. We don’t know whether we’ll be able to bring her dead body back to India but we desperately hope so.”
Benedict’s sister said he was shattered.
“He was totally broken, sobbing uncontrollably,” said Irene, 63.
Greigs and Christian are unlikely to face prosecution, but the radio station is taking a financial hit after several sponsors cut their advertising over the flap. The station is not running any commercials this weekend.
Greig called the hospital around 5:30 on Tuesday, posing as the Queen Mother, and asked to speak to Middleton, who was hospitalized with severe morning sickness.
Saldahna patched her through to the nurse, who told Greig that Middleton was resting comfortably and had stopped vomiting.
The radio station initially apologized for the prank, but continued to advertise it on its website as the “biggest royal hoax ever” — even after Saldanha’s death was reported.
Prince Charles even joked about the prank on Thursday.
“How do you know I’m not a radio station?” he quipped when a reporter asked about Middleton’s pregnancy.
— with Post Wires