E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSUpdated at 2:33 p.m. ET: A nurse duped by a prank call made to the hospital where Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, was treated for an extreme form of morning sickness was found dead Friday morning, the hospital said in a statement.
Two Australian DJs, Mel Greig and Michael Christian of Sydney station 2Day FM, called the hospital earlier this week and pretended to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles asking to be put through to the ward. They were then given an update on Kate’s health by a nurse.
The woman’s body was found at an address in Weymouth Street, London, which is around the corner from King Edward VII Hospital on Beaumont Street. Police described the circumstance of her death as "unexplained."
“It is with very deep sadness that we confirm the tragic death of a member of our nursing staff, Jacintha Saldanha,” said the statement, which was released by the hospital's public relations firm.
Radio DJs impersonate royals, get lowdown on Kate
“Jacintha has worked at the King Edward VII's Hospital for more than four years. She was an excellent nurse and well-respected and popular with all of her colleagues,” it said.
An official at King Edward VII's Hospital said the nurse who got caught up by the Kate Middleton hoax call was found dead. Jacintha Saldanha, who worked at the hospital for more than four years, was noted as an "excellent" colleague.
“We can confirm that Jacintha was recently the victim of a hoax call to the hospital. The hospital had been supporting her throughout this difficult time,” it added.
A statement released by Saldanha's family asks that the media respect their privacy at this difficult time.
Many took to the radio station’s Facebook page, posting strong-worded comments criticizing the DJs’ behavior.
“Wherever you sit, just beg forgiveness,” a commenter named Mel Lacey posted.
“They should be sacked for the awful way they are handling the results of this prank,” William Stead, another user, wrote on the page.
Media company Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) and 2Day FM released a statement saying they "are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the death of nurse Jacintha Saldanha from King Edward VII's Hospital and we extend our deepest sympathies to her family and all that have been affected by this situation around the world."
NBC's Keir Simmons has more on the situation surrounding the death of a nurse in Britain who recently received a prank call for Duchess Kate.
The statement went on to say that CEO Rhys Holleran had spoken with the two DJs, who are "deeply shocked and at this time we have agreed that they not comment about the circumstances. SCA and the hosts have decided that they will not return to their radio show until further notice out of respect for what can only be described as a tragedy."
Duke, Duchess 'deeply saddened'
A spokesman for St. James's Palace said that William, the Duke of Cambridge, and Kate were “deeply saddened” by Saldanha's death.
King Edward VII Hospital in London is still reeling from being seriously punked by two radio DJs who called and spoke to Kate's nurse. Meanwhile, the two Australians DJs apologized for their hoax. NBC's Michelle Kosinski reports.
“Their Royal Highnesses were looked after so wonderfully well at all times by everybody at King Edward VII Hospital, and their thoughts and prayers are with Jacintha Saldanha's family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time,” the spokesman added.
John Lofthouse, chief executive at King Edward VII's Hospital, was quoted as saying in the statement that "our thoughts and deepest sympathies at this time are with her family and friends."
Duchess Kate discharged from the hospital
"Everyone is shocked by the loss of a much loved and valued colleague," he added.
Lord Glenarthur, chairman of King Edward VII's Hospital, said Saldanha was "a first-class nurse who cared diligently for hundreds of patients during her time with us."
"She will be greatly missed," he said.
The police and ambulance services said the woman, who they did not name, was dead when they arrived.
“Police were called at approximately 9:35 [a.m. local time, 4:35 a.m. ET] Friday … to reports of a woman found unconscious at an address in Weymouth Street,” a spokeswoman for London’s Metropolitan Police told NBC News.
“London Ambulance Service attended and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Inquiries continue to establish the circumstances of the incident,” she added.
The police spokeswoman said the death was being treated as “unexplained” until an autopsy was carried out.
Olivia Harris/Reuters
Police officers walk outside King Edward VII hospital, central London, Friday.
More world stories from NBC News:
- 'It pains me': Clinton decries plight of women in male-dominated countries
- Hamas leader returns to Palestinian territories for first time since 1967
- PhotoBlog: Shark fins from Canada sold as delicacy in China
- EXCLUSIVE: US behind Afghan 'insecurity,' Karzai says
- ANALYSIS: After 10 years of Karzai rule, has life improved in Afghanistan?
- Sex mobs target Egypt's women
- Africa's lion population plummets, study finds
- ANALYSIS: Egyptians warn Morsi is no friend of US
Follow World News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook
Leave a Comment:
Those two stupid DJs should be in jail and charged. But then, maybe to the Aussies, this is a fun trick to pay and the outcome is funny. God bless the family and friends of the poor nurse, and curses be on the two sick DJ idiots.
The hospital was probably going to let her go so she killed herself. Also, maybe the queens secret service did it. The royals in england treat evryone that is not one of them as expendable. I bet they wanted the nurse fired, especially queen elizabeth.
this is like a "social divide" Rorschach test...half want to ignore actual results and say it's just a "harmless prank" and somehow it's the nurse's fault for just not being tough enough. The grownups (revealing my bias) look at the actual empirical results and suggest that in retrospect at the least, something more could have been done to avert this tragedy. The grownups also seem to muster some compassion for the victim. If we could only put those two assets together...judgement and compassion, along with toughness when YOU"RE the victim. Let's be clear, it's all those "harmless prank" types who scream the loudness when offended.
It's only a joke if everyone invoved thinks it's funny and can laugh about it. These two clowns embarrassed her in front of the entire world. This was probably going to cost her her job. All of this so that they could have a laugh at someone else's expense. Their parents are probably not real proud of them right about now. They should never be allowed to work in the business again.
In all likelihood, because this had become so public, it would not just her job....but her career, her livelihood.
It would be hard for her to work elsewhere after this. She may have rightly felt she was damaged goods.
I am sure she was in trouble with the hospital. I am sure they have a specific protocol for dealing with people calling for confidential information. She may have had underlying emotional issues which were worsened by the incredible stress she was under. That does not mean she was not a good nurse.
A terrible tragedy if revealed she took her own life. But, a person cannot be stable to react to a prank in which no one was harmed, with such finality.
The queen wanted her fired and you can bet the hospital did to. She of course now was perfect becouse of what happened to her. But behind the scenes you can bet the royals wanted her out.
It seems more likely they would have gone after the people who did the impersonation in the first place.
Tell, I don't think the queen would want her fired, maybe the hospital. I think it is safe to say that the staff at a hospital that cares for the royals would have a protocal for letting calls get in. Does anyone really think the queen would pick up the phone and dial the hospital to talk to a nurse? Much more likely that a secretary would call hospital administration for an update. Certainly indiactes a problem with hospital protocall.
I doubt whatever happened was over just being humiliated. I work at a hospital and accidently sharing information with the wrong person has SERIOUS repercussions. It is considered a HIPPA violation and you can lose your job and your license...even if you meant no harm at all. So I can see her having some serious distress over this!
Unless the nurse had a history of mental health issues, I doubt it was suicide. You mess with the royals, you end up dead. Just sayin'...
Who knows how these Royal people really live, I think I saw a couple of weeks ago their little Kate was on a beach topless , and everyone once in awhile the Queen comes out so the commoners can have the privilege of seeing her, but don't touch. Who really knows what goes on behind those golden doors.
I wonder if there were some cultural issues related to shame and humiliation that were at the heart of this. Did her actions somehow reflect so poorly on herself and her family that she felt that her honor was destroyed by this situation?
That's my guess on why she took such extreme measures.
I am horrified that ANYONE would find humor in any of this. After reading the posts here all I can say is that we are indeed a very very sick society. It was just a joke ... yeah right!
I never really understood the urge to humiliate others and call it fun.
I find it really hard to believe she killed herself over this. I wouldn't put it past the "royals" to kill somebody over something they find embarrassing. They are overprivileged snots that care about nothing except for power,fame,and their image. And money of course.
If they were going to kill people who embarrassed the monarchy there would have been a long line before this poor nurse who did no real harm.
Hate to state it, but the lawyers are already lining up on this one and some radio station will be paying big bucks before it's all over even if the 2 D.J.'s are canned.
No matter what country you are from, remember the American Revolutionary War. We taught those Royals they can't mess anyone around. RIP to this woman.
“We can confirm that Jacintha was recently the victim of a hoax call to the hospital. The hospital had been supporting her throughout this difficult time,” it added.
Supporting, really?
It makes me ill to see the media bashing the DJs over the death of the nurse. I'm not saying that I think what they did was in good taste. I think it was awful in every possible way. I think it's very hypocritical that the same DJ bashing media is falling over one another to get the inside story on the nurse's death. And it's so soon forgotten the media is responsible for the death of Diana. How dare they have the nerve to blame or bash anyone! Fools.
My dear Dr. Watson, could this be a "Double Punked"?
Now that's ironic since the media was probably the catalyst for her death.
It's truly tragic for the nurse and her family, and my heart goes out to all of them. It's also a sad commentary about just how far people will go to get a laugh nowadays. It wasn't really a crime, but it certainly was tacky, a violation of the Duchess' privacy, and none of their #$@@ business, really, but in the name of "funny" and "ratings" and "because we freaking CAN!" they pulled off something Steve-O would think twice about and this is the result. If you have to reach that far to get a laugh, face it: you're really not that funny.
Just burn down the radio station. (WITH the two shock jocks at their mikes.)
Tom - now that would be good air time
Very sad situation.
You have a hospital that is known for the utmost privacy and discretion in providing care for high profile, security sensitive patients. No doubt, this was drummed into employees when they were being hired and ongoing.
An apparently very competent, conscientious nurse was covering the switchboard while the regular switchboard receptionist had stepped away from her post; and this nurse in error transfers a call she believes is from the Queen on to the nurse caring for Duchess Kate. One can certainly see how anxious they would have been to respond appropriately to the Royal Family.
I'm sure both nurses were horrified when they realized that they had been "played". Then to have it all over the world's media - certainly can see that she would have felt deeply humiliated. It does seem that the hospital was supportive. It is so sad that she apparently felt that her mistake and very public humiliation couldn't be overcome.
I've never been a fan of these so-called pranks that mock everyone and everything for "sport" and for a "laugh". There is a cruel and disrespectful edge to this kind of supposed "humor". It's particularly disturbing that the targets of these acts are often the sincere, conscientious and diligent people who hold themselves to a high standard in carrying out their responsibilities.
While the DJs may not have done anything criminally wrong; their actions were petty and viciously juvenile. They set in motion a chain of events that resulted in harm, so I'm not really interested in their claim that they didn't "intend" any harm.
Be rational. The DJs have already apologized for what they had done before this happened. The media probably tortured her and that is why this happened or part of it. The media is savage.
Oh Good Grief! I hope she did not kill herself over giviing out information related to this pregnant chick!?!? Who cares about her morning sickness, who cares about her even being pregnant, does anyone even care about her???? I know I don't!!! I am so sick of seeing her and that irresponsible flake partner of hers in the press! Let's MOVE ON - ENOUGH ALREADY!