Jacintha Saldanha: Prank Nurse Leaves Suicide Note, Hoax Radio Station Donates $500K To Family
Jacintha Saldanha, the nurse who may have died from a suspected suicide days after transferring a hoax call to Kate Middleton's private nurse, has reportedly left a suicide note.
According to The London Evening Standard, Saldanha, 46, wrote a personal note to her family before she reportedly killed herself. The contents of the message, however, have not been revealed.
The mother of four died several days after she unknowingly transferred a prank call from two Australian radio DJ's, Mel Greig and Michael Christian, who pretended to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles on Tuesday, Dec 4.
On Friday, Dec. 7, Saldanha's body was found near King Edward VII Hospital where she worked and where a pregnant Middleton was treated for acute morning sickness. Local police discovered Saldanha's unconscious body on Dec. 7, near the hospital's living quarters where she resided, according to several reports.
British media reported that her family did not know about the hoax incident. Saldanha's family, who live 100 miles away from the central London hospital where she lived and worked, do not watch the news and did not learn about the prank-gone-wrong until after they learned of her death.
Saldanha's brother Naveen told Daily Mail Online that his sister was "a proper and righteous person" who might have committed suicide because she "would have felt much shame about the incident." Saldanha's family is now demanding answers from the private hospital over the circumstances that led to the tragedy. Her husband, Ben Barboza, 49, and their two children want to "know everything," according to the website.
As autopsy will be performed on Tuesday, Dec.11, to identify Saldanha's exact cause of death.
Meanwhile, the corporation that owns the prank radio station, 2Day FM, announced it will donate the company's profits from advertising to a fund the hospital has set up in Saldanha's honor: "The Jacintha Saldanha Memorial Fund to benefit her husband and children at this difficult time," a spokeperson from the King Edward VII private hospital told Daily Mail.
Rhys Holleran, the chief executive officer for the radio station's parent company Austereo, said the following in a statement:
"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."
The company estimates the total donation will be $500,000. The announcement about the fund follows a decision by Austereo on Tuesday to cancel 2Day FM's Christmas party out of respect for Saldanha.
