We're Heartbroken, says Australian RJs who Spoke to Indian Nurse


Sydney, Dec 10 (IANS): Two Australian radio hosts have said they are shattered and heartbroken following the death of an Indian nurse in Britain who fell prey to their hoax call about the Duchess of Cambridge's pregnancy.

2Day FM radio hosts Mel Greig and Michael Christian have spoken of being "shattered, gutted, heartbroken" by Jacintha Saldanha's death after their prank phone call last week, reported Sydney Morning Herald.

Saldanha, 46, a mother of two, was found unconscious last Friday in the quarters of the King Edward VII Hospital in central London where she was working as a senior nurse. She was pronounced dead when rushed to the hospital.

The two radio jockeys from Sydney had called up the hospital Dec 4. Jacintha picked up the call in the absence of the receptionist at that time (5.30 a.m.) and transferred it to another duty nurse who briefed them on the health condition of the Duchess of Cambridge (Kate Middleton), who was admitted to the hospital Dec 3 after she complained of acute morning sickness.

In a prerecorded interview with "A Current Affair", host Tracey Grimshaw asks them who came up with the idea for the prank call.

"It was just the team sitting down before the show - just had the idea for just a simple harmless phone call," Christian said. "That when we thought about making a call it was going to go for 30 seconds we were going to be hung up on, and that was it."

Greig added: "We thought a hundred people before us would've tried it, we thought it was such a silly idea and the accents were terrible and not for a second did we expect to speak to Kate let alone have a conversation with anyone at the hospital. We wanted to be hung up on."

On how they reacted when told of Saldanha's death, both DJs broke down in tears.
Greig described it as "gut wrenching". Christian concurred.

"Shattered, gutted, heartbroken and obviously you know... our deepest sympathies are with the family and the friends," he said.

The news about the hoax call and the subsequent death caused outrage the world over.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Bob, DXB

    Mon, Dec 17 2012

    Unless its a Local in Dubai.. u can't deport him anywhere..

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • sandra, Dubai

    Sun, Dec 16 2012

    I am a mangalorean nurse too.My condolences to her family.However as a british nurse she could have taken a leave of absence from work till all this dies down and then come back to work especially since the hospital was harassing her.She has children who need her more than ever in their teens.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Lancelot N Tauro, Manglore - Doha Qatar

    Tue, Dec 11 2012

    It's a warning to Radio jockeys. I can here in Radio Spice dubai, Birthday Popat threatening over the radio phone I will cancel your visa send you back to India.

    DisAgree Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Paul, Mangalore/Dubai

    Mon, Dec 10 2012

    You are right Mr. R.Bhandarkar.,SHe should have been a bit stonger.Atleast should have told her Husnband ,Family members. But here still there is nothing how she died yes it a suicide but how is it mentioned anywhere ??????

    DisAgree [1] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lawrence, Puttur

    Mon, Dec 10 2012

    Dear Mr. Anil, over here why do u drag Indian Govt., how can Indian Govt know about this prank call? In Dubai alone it self u can find out how many such incidents occures, yes it is the responsibility of the person who makes prank calls or any such do,s, yes some time all the prcautions will fail and unwanted will happen. So, please do not drag one thing to the other. Yes, I am gone through this kind of tragic, and I know the pain, but the exact thing is if I am bold enough nothing will hurt me. please do not write which is not connected to the incident.

    DisAgree [1] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • John Tauro, M'lore / Kwt

    Mon, Dec 10 2012

    It makes one wonder why should a nurse, truly dedicated to her job, commit this tragic act just for answering a hoax call? It has to be ascertained whether the hospital management had any role in compelling her to take this horrible step? Was she forced to accept her unwarranted guilt? It says she was found unconscious in her apartment and pronounced dead when brought to the hospital. Was there any deliberate delay in taking her to the hospital which quite nearby? These questions need to be answered. And this is the second tragic incident in Europe in recent days, the first being of Dr. Savita in Ireland. Incidentally both ladies hailed from Karnataka. Its time our Govt. must wake up immediatley, initiate independent, impartial investigations in both cases and demand due compensation to the victims' families, just as Europeans, Australians or Americans do for their citizens.

    DisAgree Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Blaan Mendonca, USA

    Mon, Dec 10 2012


    Jaimini P.B., Manipal,Sharjah
    Jacintha Saldanha is a British Nurse and not an Indian Nurse. She was born in India, Valencia Mangalore, but she is a citizen of United Kingdom. Criminal Charges will be pressed against those two DJs if Benedict and family proves she died because of the Prank call.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse

  • Thomas Suares, Brahmavar/Dubai

    Mon, Dec 10 2012

    My heartfelt sympathesis with the family of late Jacintha Saldanha. No words can fill the Vacuum created by her death. But for the foolish media people it is just prank call and disturb the privacy of common people. I am surprised that there are no laws in this world to punish such uncivilised people. Our life has no value and no where we have the support as we are from the sub-continent. Will the British laws contain any section to punish such people? Now shedding the tears is of no use to the family instead RJ's may get more advertisements.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Reema Shetty, Mangalore

    Mon, Dec 10 2012

    Surprising no protests from anyone in Mangalore...not even from media..!!!

    We are fit to fight with ourselves only.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Anil, dubai

    Mon, Dec 10 2012

    Indian Govt and all indian politicians are busy in their own world planning how to make more money from indian people.Indian govt never will support us for any matters.In India lot of poor people will die every minute but nobody(politicans) will care but when one corrupt politicians will die they are ready to call for Bharat band

    DisAgree [1] Agree [27] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jaimini P.B., Manipal,Sharjah

    Mon, Dec 10 2012

    WE DON'T WANT CROCODILE TEARS..RJs are lucky that victim is an Indian.Had she been Ameriacan or British, victim family would have claimed millions of dollars in compensation.Unfortuantely,Govt of India is sleeping. Examples.1.Savita's death in Norway 2.Andhra parents jail imprisonment for scolding child in Norway.3.Jacinta's controversial death in U.K.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [51] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar., M

    Mon, Dec 10 2012

    There'a lesson in it for everyone.
    You cannot measure everyone by the same yard-stick.Personally feel it's an 'eye opener' for me, one who always wants to see the 'funnier' side in everything.Gosh- the repercussions due to this prank call- irrepairable!Do wish -
    Do wish- Jacintha was a bit stronger though...should have thought of everbody...Oh God!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [36] Reply Report Abuse

  • Naveen D'souza, Valencia-Kuwait

    Mon, Dec 10 2012

    there is any use. husband loose wife & childrens loose mother. shame on you.Play mischief on your family members.A criminal case should be registerd and stringent action should be taken against you criminals

    DisAgree [3] Agree [52] Reply Report Abuse


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