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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.
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The DJs could very well have been the reason. I say suicide. I wonder if the conversation was recorded...after all it was the royalty's room. I would like to know more about what transpired, what the nurse told her colleagues and what her superior told her. Maybe she was threatened with being fired or worse. We need to know more. But this is very sad. DJs sometimes go overboard with their Freedom of Speech. I too wonder how the call even got through (no caller ID???)...
I hope criminal charges can be filed against the DJ's. Maybe they would think twice about doing stupid pranks. DJ's should stick to what they get paid to do and that's play music, not run their mouths about everything and anything they feel like. No one cares what they have to say or think anyway.
If it was suicide.....i have english friends who say many are VERY protective of Kate and Wills....she may have felt awful for exposing Kate to the public, like a stupid betrayal or something. So very sad.....she must have been very sensitive. And who knows what the hospital authorities said to her after this incident?
After what happened to Wills' mother, you would think the media would know better. It wasnt a silly high-school prank....it was impersonating the royals, fraudulent misrepresentation, LIEING (so acceptable nowadays). Plus the system sucked.....when my aunt was in the hospital I had a special code I had to give the nurses before they gave me info.
Yeah, you all are right! Let's get rid of humor because, you know, someone could take it too seriously! All of you lambasting the DJs were probably laughing when you heard of the successful prank. I feel no sorrow for someone taking their life over something like this.
I'd agree with you if it were funny. Stuff like this isn't. It's pathetic to find humor simply in making someone else look foolish or to take enjoyment in their distress.
Totally and wholeheartedly agree.
This free citizen did not find it amusing in any way - the young woman was ill and having to live her life in a fish bowl is not fun - I truly hope that the "media" leaves them alone - I hope that William stands up and speaks his mind loud and clear and in no uncertain terms - He's had to endure such tragedy with a brave face - and now his lovely bride has to put up with the invasion. Why can't they be left alone?
Totally agree Kate-344962. Just the way William's mother died should be enough of an indicator for people like those DJs to back off with the stupidity. The Duchess was sick and entitled to her privacy just like the rest of us. Kate and William have been gracious to the media in every way, always giving interviews and smiling for photos. I am sure they would have kept the public updated well enough about her pregnancy. What more do the vultures in the media want from them?
Impersonation ......invasion of privacy.....
There must be something those DJ's can be charged with...
Well, they set out to get a laugh at somebody else's expense, and they did. That's what this "let's prank somebody" part of the entertainment media culture is all about, isn't it? And of course they didn't set out to jolt somebody into taking their own life, but apparently that's what happened. And though it may be extreme, you feel it shouldn't have happened, don't you? So how 'bout if we encourage the "let's all get a laugh at somebody else's expense" mob to go get a real job, or prank themselves for a change?
The article does not say she committed suicide, Come on people . quit promoting gossip like the tabloids and wait for some facts !
This royal baby, sure has one great scrapbook started already!!
A 4-year career at Hospital? Wow, medal of Honor please. If a crank call caused a suicide or death from stress, the nurse was not mentally capable of doing her job.
This report would be a very useful and effective hoax in reverse if such were the case, now wouldn't it?
Nice one, radio guys. How's your ratings now???
Probably more alive than she is !!! lol
People can't mind their own freaking business. GOP too, STAY OUT OF MY BUSINESS ABOUT MY BODY. Hope the DJ is happy now. PFFT
Dear M, please call 007.
Regarding the prank - who finds that crap funny? Lowest common denominator of the population find humor in making someone out to be foolish or gullible. Unfortunately our society today seems predicated on taking enjoyment out of others's failures (reality tv, stunts such as this)
Sad state of events.
Damn DJ's!! They should be charged. If not, they have to live with what they did. Worthless..
Bet you they aren't laughing now! Real funny guys.....
It was probably some crazy obsessed Raoyal watcher who felt the nurse should not have gave up info.. Those sickos are everywhere.
Unfortunately Kate is hounded much like Diana.
If you ever wondered why guns are illegal in Au, This should answer your question.
I'd be looking into the Queen, Charles & Camilla for this one, just like Di's death they had something to do with it. A bunch of crackpots in that family.
If the post here by PJ stating that she had been made fun of over being punked by a couple of media whores (if you do what ever it takes to sell the story, yourself, that makes you a whore) is true; then it's doubly tragic. She probably felt really bad at exposing the much loved Duchess, and to add the ridicule by the folk around her - I truly hope those radio 'folk' in Australia are brought up on charges -
What about the news whores in the U.S. and all over the world who ran with the story and reprinted and televised all the information the Australians got over the phone? Uh oh.....
News whores like NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, BBC, ...... double uh oh.
Exactly, It's their fault she's dead, they couldn't keep their mouth shut about it for 5 seconds.....
OK, now stop jumping to conclusions people. There are no guns or murder in England. Probably just choked on some figgy pudding or something tragic. Lets focus on the real culprits... those prank callers who found out all that personal information that the princess was doing ok and suffering from morning sickness.
How old was the nurse? She could have had a heart condition and perhaps the stress/starin of the prank incident, could have induced cardiac arrest. It would seem extreme to suicide over this type of situation, but then again I know that some brits are mad on the royal family to the point of fanaticism. I'd get a real good attorney, if I were those DJ's and the media corp, that employs them ---
I have never understood how practical jokes can be considered funny. So basically you do something completely believable and then make fun of someone for believing it--where's the humor? It's cruel and I see no humor in cruelty.
Midwest - I agree with you. I have never found practical jokes funny. I've always hated those TV shows that rely on them.
DJs will always have the misguided fantasy that their aggrandizing is "entertainment". In my opinion, eliminating all DJ/hosts from radio broadacasts would immeasurably improve that industry. What's the hold up? Egos? These kind of schoolyard shenanigans are sad. Grow up and become human beings at your leisure, loud-mouth DJs.
Why exactly is this news worthy? People die every day.
Don't worry, sweets (try connecting the dots); when you croak it certainly won't be newsworthy.
Because she may have upset the royal vagina.........
Looks like fellow sub-humans Jennifer and LaniMirc need to crawl in the same hole together. Karma is a beyotch Miss Things, wait until it comes knocking on your doors.
Cold, very cold.
Prank calls happen all the time...no reason to kill yourself. Scott Walker's secretary didn't kill herself when they thought David Koch was on the line and it was a DJ.