Australian FM station giving hundreds of thousands to family of Kate nurse
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The Sydney radio station whose prank apparently led to the suicide of a London nurse caring for Princess Kate says it is giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to her family.
2Day FM said it would give all the money it makes from advertising the rest of the year plus $525,000 to start, the Australian reported.
The station’s CEO, Rhys Holleran, said the DJs responsible for the prank call to the hospital where pregnant Princess Kate was staying remain suspended. The station had also stopped all advertising but it will resume Thursday. DJs Mel Grieg and David Christian apologized, but said they only recorded the prank. They said others at the station were responsible for airing it.
The station is owned by Southern Cross Austereo. It has informed its investors and the Australian Stock Exchange of its decision.
The station's radio personalities pretended to be the queen and Prince CharlesPrince Charles when they phoned King Edward VII hospital to inqjuire about the health of Kate, who was suffering morning sickness.
Nurse Jacintha Saldanha, mother of two, put them through to the nurse in Kate's room, and got a report on her condition.
Holleran told the Herald Sun: "We are very sorry for what has happened. 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."
