The London nurse who killed herself after patching through a prank phone call from Australian DJs to the colleague caring for Kate Middleton was “traumatized” by the ordeal, it was revealed yesterday.
Jacintha Saldanha, 46, was “terribly upset,” said a hospital source. “She was traumatized by it and by the media coverage.”
She transferred the call on Wednesday from the dimwitted shock jocks — who posed as Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles — to the nurse treating the pregnant Dutchess of Cambridge for morning sickness.
That nurse, who has not been identified, gave up information about Middleton’s state to the snickering jockeys.
Saldanha was slated to speak with her bosses about the prank before her bodywas found Friday in an apparent suicide, but had not been disciplined.
“The hospital was working hard to support her. But I don’t think anyone realized how traumatized she was,” the source said. “There was a plan to have a chat [with her] at some point.”
Scotland Yard wants to interviweq reached out toAussie police, who want to interview DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian over the death, which was classified as “unexplained.”
Greig and Christian were holed up yesterday as King Edward VII’s Hospital ripped into the pair in a letter to the radio station.
“The immediate consequence of these premeditated and illconsidered actions was the humiliation of two dedicated and caring nurses who were simply doing their job tending to their patients,” the letter read. “The longerterm consequence has been reported around the world and is, frankly, tragic beyond words.”
The radio station defended the suspended DJs. According to the Daily Mail, it won’t fire them. Their boss even painted them as victims.
“This is a tragic event that could not have been reasonably foreseen, and we’re deeply saddened by it,” said Rhys Holleran, the CEO of Southern Cross Austereo, which owns the station 2Day FM.
“I spoke to both presenters early this morning and it’s fair to say they’re completely shattered,” he said yesterday in Melbourne, adding that the pair had been offered counseling and that Greig could be suicidal.
“These people aren’t machines — they’re human beings. We’re all affected by this,” he said. “Everyone who knows Mel fears for her mental state. There are very real fears she could selfharm, and nobody wants that.”
Saldanha’s husband mourned her loss on Facebook. “I am devastated with the tragic loss of my beloved wife Jacintha in tragic circumstances, She will be laid to rest in Shirva, India,” he wrote.
Their 14 year old daughter, Lisha, also posted, “I miss you, I loveeee you,” on Facebook, according to the DailyMail.
Saldanha’s inlaws in Mangalore, India, said she did not talk about the pranks.
“Benedict used to call every day, but [neither] he nor Jacintha said anything about what had happened. Everything seemed normal,” said her motherinlaw, Carmine Saldanha, 69, according to Indian media.
“We got a call last night from Benedict informing us that Jacintha had died. He was crying and couldn’t speak much. We don’t knowwhether we’ll be able to bring her dead body back to India but we desperately hope so.”
Benedict’s sister said he was shattered.
“He was totally broken, sobbing uncontrollably,” said Irene, 63.
Greig and Christian are unlikely to face prosecution, but the radio station is taking a financial hit after several sponsors cut their advertising over the flap. The station is not running any commercials this weekend.
The radio station is no stranger to controversy.
Broadcast authorities investigated it after a teen girl in 2009 was hooked up to a lie detector on the air and claimed she was raped when she was 12.
In Tuesday’s prank, Greig called the hospital around 5:30 on Tuesday, posing as the Queen, and asked to speak to Middleton, whowas hospitalized with severe morning sickness.
Saldanha patched her through to the nurse, who told Greig that Middleton was resting comfortably.
Greig continued the ruse, asking Christian, whowas impersonating Prince Charles, for a ride to the hospital.
The radio station initially apologized for the prank, but continued to advertise it on its Web site as the “biggest royal hoax ever” — even after Saldanha’s death was reported.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has received “a lot” of complaints over the prank, but is not investigating, the DailyMail said.
The prestigious hospital has long hosted the royal family and the rich and famous.
Saldanha—who worked at the hospital for four years—was answering calls that night since there is no afterhours operator.
The hospital forbids employees to patch phone calls through to the ward.
With Sunday Times of London
dmacleod@nypost.com
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