Australia shocked by nurse's death
Anger is mounting against two Australian radio presenters after a nurse who was duped into helping reveal details about the Duchess of Cambridge's health apparently took her own life.
Jacintha Saldanha was pronounced dead at an address near the King Edward VII's Hospital in central London, where the pregnant Duchess had been treated for a severe form of morning sickness.
The nurse, reportedly a mother of two, was the victim of two DJs from the Sydney-based station 2Day FM, who impersonated the Queen and the Prince of Wales. She answered their call and, believing they were members of the Royal Family, put them through to another nurse who described Kate's condition in detail. In a statement, Ms Saldanha's family said they were "deeply saddened" by the death and asked for privacy.
The two presenters, Mel Greig and Michael Christian, apologised for their actions, as did their radio station. They have now been taken off the air and the station has been inundated with complaints.
But Rhys Holleran, chief executive of 2Day FM's parent company Southern Cross Austereo, stood by the two DJs, and said they were shocked and devastated by the news of Ms Saldanha's death. At a news conference in Melbourne he said: "This is a tragic event that could not have been reasonably foreseen and we're deeply saddened by it. I spoke to both presenters early this morning and it's fair to say they're completely shattered."
Mr Holleran said the pair had been offered counselling, adding: "These people aren't machines, they're human beings. We're all affected by this." In the wake of the tragedy Southern Cross Austereo said that, by mutual consent, the hosts would not be returning to their show until further notice.
The news of Ms Saldanha's death has led the headlines in the Australian media, with calls for the DJs to be sacked. It was reported the advertisers are already deserting the radio station, including supermarket giant Coles and telecommunications company Telstra. There has been an angry backlash from people in Australia, and almost 14,000 people have left comments on the station's Facebook page.
The two presenters remarked during their show how their efforts were the "easiest prank call ever made", as they put on mock British accents they later described as "terrible". The prank call was pre-recorded and vetted by lawyers before being broadcast to listeners in Sydney.
In their initial apology the two presenters said: "We were very surprised that our call was put through. We thought we'd be hung up on as soon as they heard our terrible accents. We're very sorry if we've caused any issues and we're glad to hear that Kate is doing well."
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have sent their condolences to Ms Saldanha's family and said they had been looked after "so wonderfully well at all times by everybody at King Edward VII's Hospital". A St James's Palace spokesman stressed that they had not complained to the hospital about the hoax call, saying: "On the contrary, we offered our full and heartfelt support to the nurses involved and hospital staff at all times."
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Valhmor A. Zammit
Dec 9th 2012, 11:53
To what vile levels can some people stoop!!
John Spiteri Jones
Dec 9th 2012, 10:41
All maltese of visious tounghs and gruges,and sadly there are many of them, who spent thier time spreading roumor and lies about others please take note of this sad death!
Lina Caruana
Dec 8th 2012, 15:55
One reason why rough pranksters should be careful, is that they do not have knowledge about who is suffering from what. What happened to a sense of responsibility in doing any kind of work especially towards other persons?Deceiving has consequences, Are they always healthy even if they are pranks? Unfortunately sometimes we turn things upside down by excusing pranksters. Now a person has died
Cecil Herbert Jones
Dec 8th 2012, 14:45
One prank phone call caused morning sickness worldwide!.....but of a different kind. What a terrible moment nurse Jacintha Saldanha must've passed through! She probably thought nobody would believe her innocence!!
Maria Barbara
Dec 8th 2012, 14:08
People who commit suicide have a story behind them. The last story is the straw that breaks the camel's back. I am very saddened by this lady's committing suicide. But I am also sorry for the Australian broadcasters who were the straw on the camel's back. Unless they are very well taken care of they will carry this with them for a lifetime. God Rest Her Soul. Amen.
Mr Tony Gatt
Dec 8th 2012, 15:51
Think first before embarking on any practical joke- I'm no royalist but they are entitiled to privacy when in hospital just like everyone else.
I think those two jokers deserve all they get.
S Micallef
Dec 8th 2012, 17:06
@Tony Gatt. Everyone is entitled to privacy, but the royals should learn that if they want privacy they need to be private in the first place. Updating the world about the Duchess' nausea was plain stupid. Had they not said anything they would not have created all this fuss. Fejn iridu l-privacy! Same goes with celebrities!
Pippo de Marco
Dec 8th 2012, 12:53
It is tragic when someone feels so low that they need to end their own life, especially someone in the caring profession. Sincere and heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.
I do hope that she was not subjected to unfair criticism or pressure over being duped.
Franco Farrugia
Dec 8th 2012, 13:27
It seems it is not the case that she was put under any pressure. From the way I read things, she was unlucky enough to fall under the circumstances while she was at a vulnerable moment in her life.
That having been said, society in general is not doing enough to protect and help certain professionals carrying out important and very sensitive services: police, nurses, teachers come to mind.
Pippo de Marco
Dec 8th 2012, 12:48
It is tragic when someone feels so low that they need to end their own life, especially someone in the caring profession. Sincere and heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.
I do hope that she was not subjected to unfair criticism or pressure over being duped.
David Calleja
Dec 8th 2012, 12:28
@ S. Micallef - a PERSON is dead - whatever the reason is, the fact remains that if these two ''pranksters'' hadn't done what they did - this person would still be alive. now apply that to your own family and see how YOU'D feel if God forbid, it was a member of your family who was the victim.... how utterly insensitive of you to comment in such a way keep your anti-British feelings to yourself
Michael Andrews
Dec 8th 2012, 13:22
David, i too feel for this woman and her family, but i sincerely do not believe what happened was purely because of this prank phone call. People have problems in all walks of life and maybe this was the icing on the cake. The hospital did not reprimand her, neither The Royal Family. In fact she was given the backing of both parties.
S Micallef
Dec 8th 2012, 17:03
@David it has nothing to do with being anti-british. most things i like are british. Im really upset that a person died but i think it's the fault of palace officials & royals who insist on manipulating the media to their own ends. If the royals wanted to keep everything private they should have refrained from telling the world that the Duchess is nauseous. They are inviting the world to comment.
Charles Muscat
Dec 9th 2012, 02:27
Who would have thought the joke will end the way it did? Is it the case that we are not allowed to say a joke anymore simply because Kate had a morning sickness. Whats the big deal anyway.
J lanzon
Dec 8th 2012, 12:28
This is a suicide caused by the media, not by the 2 dj's. The media killed the woman from the constant pressure. If they let it slide by, the world wouldn't know of her mistake constantly.
Mr Tony Gatt
Dec 8th 2012, 15:52
It was the radio station that put it on Facebook and kept pointing people to the site even after she was dead.
S Micallef
Dec 8th 2012, 17:06
J.Lanzon well said!!!!!
Dunstan Crockford
Dec 8th 2012, 12:11
The Broadcasting Authority should issue serious warnings to all radio stations in the wake of this tragic ending to this `joke.Some local Dj`s have the habit of doing such pranks!
Franco Farrugia
Dec 8th 2012, 13:28
Indeed, but you have to admit that this was a very unfortunate incident and the person concerned MUST HAVE BEEN more vulnerable than usual.
Charles Zammit
Dec 8th 2012, 11:28
Shocked & Devastated !! Not as much as her family are for sure . Any hoaxer that carries these cowardly deeds ought to be put behind bars for a long time .
@ S.Micallef I wonder what you would think if this young nurse was your Wife /Daughter ., and yes some prank !!
S Micallef
Dec 8th 2012, 11:42
If the nurse were my wife/daughter i would direct the anger to the the palace official who decided to let the world know that the "palace was deeply upset at the prank" and the british press who kept going on & on about it diong nothing but putting pressure on the nurse!
S Micallef
Dec 8th 2012, 11:44
The royal family use the media when & how they want & once in a while it turns out a little wrong for them. They best just stay out of the limelight & the press won't hound them anymore. They want the press to follow them to every little "charity" event they go to, but then cry foul if the press show something which is not on their terms.
Joe Caruana
Dec 8th 2012, 12:12
Mr Zammit, what about the obvious total lack of privacy procedures and training of staff at King Edward VII hospital especially with such a high profile patient. Here in Australia, on admission, the patient supplies details of the person that is allowed to contact the hospital. Only after proper identification of the caller are details released. It's sad that the nurse bore the brunt of it all.
Francis Grech
Dec 8th 2012, 13:11
For all you people who are blaming the British press and the 2 DJ's have no sense of humour these two guys were only mucking about and until the nurse committed suicide the prank was a laugh able piece of banter I do feel sorry for the nurse but she must have been a very sensitive person.
Michael Andrews
Dec 8th 2012, 13:14
@ JOe Caruana The nurses in question thought they were talkng to the Queen who i bet u any money is on the list that would be allowed to contact Kate.
S Micallef
Dec 8th 2012, 11:04
Had the English press and the palace spokespersons not made such a fuss about the prank call, the woman wouldn't have felt all this pressure! It's easy to blame the 2 DJs, but let's face it, the press & palace are to blame too. The British press & people should learn that there are things going on in the world more tragic & serious than Kate's nausea!
John B. Borg
Dec 8th 2012, 11:51
How insensitive. You are ignoring the pain and anxiety that this person suffered as a result of this callous prank. An umbearable pain that led her to such an extreme end. I just hope that the perpetrators of this cheap and cruel sensationalism will carry the guilt of Ms Saldanha's death on their conscience for all their miserable lives
S Micallef
Dec 8th 2012, 17:08
I'm not being insensitive, i feel sorry for the woman and her family. But her the British press & the royals are to blame. They should have just shut up about it.
Mr Tony Gatt
Dec 8th 2012, 11:02
I must say their accents were indeed terrible but that's no excuse. Everyone is entitled to privacy in hospital.
john muscat
Dec 8th 2012, 10:15
That was an anonymous call with tragic consequences and the perpetrators should shoulder the responsibility and at least help financially the nurse's two children till they are able to sustain themselves.
S Micallef
Dec 8th 2012, 11:11
Perhaps palace officials and british press should think twice before making such a huge fuss about a duchess' nausea. There are children dying in Africa everyday!
Jane Falzon
Dec 8th 2012, 12:19
@ S Micallef
Palace officials only said anything because they knew word would get out once she was in hospital. Clearly you do not understand the affection the british public have for Diana's son, and consequently, his wife.
In the meantime, what are YOU doing about children dying in Africa?
Mr Tony Gatt
Dec 8th 2012, 15:57
@ S. Micalllef
Children are dying in Africa because of the corrupt politicians who siphon aid to themselves and their cronies. Billions have been poured into a 'black hole' there and all we see are more guns and bullets.
S Micallef
Dec 8th 2012, 18:13
@Jane Falzon, what i do for the children in Africa is my business, but I am already helping my shifting focus on what really matters in life and what causes really need our attention. Let's get our priorities straight people & let's stop taking in all the rubbish some foreign media feeds us!
paul camilleri
Dec 8th 2012, 08:30
This goes to show how some people react to pranks played by irrisponsable people, these DJs should be arrested and charged for involantry manslaughter!!! also last week on Utube there was a prank of a coffin in a lift and the lid pops open and a "dead person" starts waving his arms , in another clip a ghost girl climbs in through a hatch when the lights are off and screams at who ever is there
Ronnie Callus
Dec 8th 2012, 23:14
Rightly so. This should not be allowed on any form of media. They can cause a lot of trouble in ones mind.
Bronwyn Cini
Dec 16th 2012, 23:30
Please refrain from callus comments if you are I'll informed. The dj's in question are surely sorry for what has happened however like any job they are directed by higher management so to condem them as you suggested would be crazy. Most certainly this behavior and program should not continue as this is not the first incident however in saying that may her soul r.ip
Ronnie Callus
Dec 8th 2012, 08:27
That's why before one takes an action he should think twice or even a bit more.
Please choose the reason of your report below: