Pranksters: Mel Greig and Michael Christian

The Australian radio presenters who duped a nurse in to believing that they were Prince Charles and the Queen have been suspended until further notice.

Several days ago presenters Mel Grieg and Michael Christian from 2 Day FM in Sydney Australia called the King Edward VII’s Hospital where the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge (Kate Middleton) was receiving treatment for severe morning sickness. Nurse Jacintha Saldanha who was apparently covering reception at the time transferred the prank call to a colleague who then went on to pass on information about the Duchess’ condition.

Married mother of two Jacintha was found unconscious yesterday morning at an address near the hospital and pronounced dead at the scene.

Police are now calling this a “suspected suicide”.

2Day FM’s chief executive Rhys Holleran is standing by Greig and Christian and said in a statement:

This is a tragic event that could not have been reasonably foreseen and we’re deeply saddened by it. I spoke to both presenters early this morning and it’s fair to say they’re completely shattered.”

 “These people aren’t machines, they’re human beings. We’re all affected by this.”

…

This is unbelievably sad.

The backlash has been intense but I don’t believe for a second that those radio presenters thought anyone would actually fall for their bad impersonations of the Queen and Prince Charles, and no one could have foreseen this silly prank later resulting in the death of a nurse.

There has got to be more to this story.

Rest In Peace Jacintha Saldanha.