Nurse involved in Duchess of Cambridge hoax call found dead

PanARMENIAN.Net - A nurse at a London hospital who took a hoax call about the Duchess of Cambridge has been found dead.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said in a statement they were "deeply saddened" by the death of the nurse, named as Jacintha Saldanha. King Edward VII hospital paid tribute to "a first class nurse who cared diligently for hundreds of patients".

Details of the pregnant duchess's medical condition were unwittingly revealed to two Australian DJs. Mel Greig and Michael Christian, from Sydney radio station 2Day FM posed as the Queen and Prince Charles in a call early on Tuesday, Dec 4 morning. The DJs later apologized saying they 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."

Rhys Holleran, chief executive of SCA, the company which owns the station, said in a statement the pair will not return to their show until further notice out of respect for Saldanha.

The duchess had been admitted on Monday for acute morning sickness, and was discharged on Thursday.

According to BBC, Saldanha - who was staying in hospital accommodation close to King Edward VII hospital - was the person who answered the call from the Australian DJs and was not the nurse who discussed the duchess's medical condition.

Scotland Yard said officers were called at 09:35 GMT on Friday after reports of a woman found unconscious at an address in Weymouth Street, central London. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said the death was not being treated as suspicious.

In a statement, Saldanha's family said they were "deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved Jacintha". They have requested privacy from the media. .