A post-mortem examination is due to take
place later on the nurse who was found dead after taking a hoax call about the
Duchess of Cambridge.
Jacintha Saldanha was found dead on Friday,
three days after taking the call from Australian radio presenters Michael
Christian and Mel Greig.
Mrs Saldanha's family made a private visit
to King Edward VII's Hospital in London, where she worked, on Monday.
The hospital has launched a memorial fund
to support the nurse's family.
A memorial service in her honour will be
held later this week.
John Lofthouse, chief executive of King
Edward VII's Hospital, said: "A senior member of staff is comforting the
family and offering assistance and will continue to do so for as long as
needed.
"We have also established the Jacintha
Saldanha Memorial Fund. There has been an overwhelming outpouring of support
for the family from around the world, and this fund will enable people to make
a donation.
"The fund will go to helping
Jacintha's husband and children at this terrible time."
Millions of Australians watched the
prime-time royal hoax tragedy interviews. While DJs Mel Greig and Michael
Christian have been subjected to intense hostility online, the temper of the
traditional media is far more conciliatory and sympathetic to the embattled duo
following their tearful TV apology.
"It's the station management that
should take the responsibility," insists Mike Carlton, a former radio
broadcaster. "They were kids rushing in where rather wiser and older
angels might have feared to tread."
As the fallout continues, the Sydney
Morning Herald is urging the authorities here not to overreact. "The
tragedy should not be used by the regulators in our midst to introduce even
more controls over the media," writes columnist Gerard Henderson.
Commenting on the castigation of Greig and
Christian on social media, Sydney's Daily Telegraph says "the orgy of
abuse, posturing and cant… is completely unsurprising given the modern
enthusiasm for joining the lynch mob".
He added: "I know that the family have
received huge support from their local community and church. We will be holding
a memorial service for Jacintha later this week.
"We understand that the family are
distraught and need time to reflect on the assistance they require. King Edward
VII's Hospital will remain here for them whenever, wherever and however they
need us."
The Duchess of Cambridge was taken to King
Edward VII's Hospital last Monday suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, an
extreme form of morning sickness.
In the early hours of Tuesday, Mrs Saldanha
answered the Australian presenters' call and, believing they were members of
the Royal Family, put them through to another nurse, who gave an update on the
duchess's condition in detail.
Mrs Saldanha, 46, was pronounced dead on
Friday morning at staff accommodation close to the hospital. An inquest into
her apparent suicide is due to be opened in the next few days.
The family of Mrs Saldanha said in a
statement that "we as a family are deeply saddened by the loss of our
beloved Jacintha".
Labour MP Keith Vaz, who has visited Mrs
Saldanha's husband Benedict Barboza and their two children at their home in
Bristol, said: "They will love her and cherish her and take her to India
for burial."
Michael Christian and Mel Greig's emotional
interview with Australian TV
He said Mrs Saldanha's family were
Mangalorean Catholics - originating from the city of Mangalore in India - and
he said they were a "small, strong family".
In the hoax call, Mr Christian and Ms Greig
had pretended to be Prince Charles and the Queen asking about the duchess in
hospital, who has since been allowed home.
They said in a tearful interview with
Australian television broadcast on Monday that they were "gutted and
heartbroken" over the death of Mrs Saldanha.
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