Australian radio station sets up memorial fund for royal hoax nurse's family
The Australian radio station which prank called the hospital where Kate Middleton was staying has set up a memorial fund for the family of the nurse who took the call.
Nurse Jacintha Saldanha, who lived in Southmead with her family, was found dead on Friday at nurses' lodgings near the central London King Edward VII hospital, where the Duchess of Cambridge was being treated for pregnancy complications.
Ms Saldanha was found in what appeared to be a suspected suicide just three days after answering the call from two Australian DJs, posing as the Queen and Prince Charles.
The nurse, 46, who used to work for North Bristol NHS Trust – which runs Southmead Hospital near her family home – answered the call at 5.30am before putting the DJs through to another nurse who gave the callers details of the duchess' condition.
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A post mortem examination is being carried out today.
Now, according to the Scottish Daily Record, Southern Cross Austereo (SCA), the parent company of 2Day FM, announced that it was resuming advertising from Thursday, and that until the end of the year all profits would be donated to a fund directly benefiting Ms Saldanha's family.
The company said a minimum contribution of around £320,000 would be made.
Rhys Holleran, SCA's chief executive, said: "We are very sorry for what has happened. It is a terrible tragedy and our thoughts continue to be with the family.
"We hope that by contributing to a memorial fund we can help to provide the Saldanha family with the support they need at this very difficult time.
"The company today reiterates that it is deeply saddened by this tragic and unforeseen event and offers its condolences to the family of Jacintha Saldanha."
SCA has also cancelled the station's Christmas party, planned for later this week, as it would be "inappropriate" to go ahead with the event for Sydney staff, said a spokeswoman.
Instead, money which would have been spent on the party will go to charity, she added.
Emily Koch - Emily is a journalist living in Bristol, where she works as a digital publisher for Northcliffe Digital. She writes for ThisisBristol and was previously a senior reporter on The Post.
Comments
by Kathygr
Wednesday, December 12 2012, 12:25AM
“She chose do to this herself, she had control over her actions . These djs have suffered enough, it was part of their job. Let it be , how we're they to know that she was mentally unstable? It was her doing that left her children without a mother.”
by katachua
Tuesday, December 11 2012, 5:04PM
“@pillowfight
"A grudge against anyone that commits suicide."
I'm sure that will worry them immensely. Or are you hoping that your caring, compassionate attitude will prevent them from doing it?
I have a good friend who works in a crisis unit. Strange to say, she doesn't try to save peoples' lives by telling them that she has a grudge against suicide.
[IRONY ON]
Maybe I should suggest it to her as a strategy.
[IRONY OFF]”
by pillowfight
Tuesday, December 11 2012, 4:43PM
“A grudge against anyone that commits suicide.”
by Erinaceus
Tuesday, December 11 2012, 4:00PM
“@pillowfight
"When all else fails play the racist card."
So it's not racism? A personal grudge, then?”
by katachua
Tuesday, December 11 2012, 3:58PM
“@Erinaceus
"@pillowfight
What is your beef about this? You've spent days vilifying Ms Saldanha and supporting the morons at 2Day. Do you have a personal interest or is it simple racism?"
Thank you, diminutive insectivore. I've been wondering that for days, but couldn't quite bring myself to ask.”
by pillowfight
Tuesday, December 11 2012, 3:23PM
“When all else fails play the racist card.”
by welliedog2
Tuesday, December 11 2012, 3:10PM
“Typical Australian diplomacy..."shame your mothers is dead and we are partly to blame, here is a few quid, now no worries!"
No class shown by the radio station in question, they should have maintained a dignified silence.”
by Erinaceus
Tuesday, December 11 2012, 3:02PM
“@pillowfight
What is your beef about this? You've spent days vilifying Ms Saldanha and supporting the morons at 2Day. Do you have a personal interest or is it simple racism?”
by pillowfight
Tuesday, December 11 2012, 2:40PM
“http://tinyurl.com/5ujowl4”
by pillowfight
Tuesday, December 11 2012, 2:39PM
“Suicide was decriminalised in the UK under the 1961.”