Jacintha Saldanha Death: 2Day FM To Set Up Memorial Fund For Dead Nurse

2Day FM To Set Up Jacintha Saldanha Memorial Fund

A fund in memory of nurse Jacintha Saldanha is to be set up by the Australian radio station whose DJs duped her in a hoax call before she apparently took her own life.

Jacintha Saldanha's husband and teenage children will receive at least £320,000 in donations from the advertising profits of Sydney broadcaster 2Day FM, whose presenters were behind the hoax call.

The nurse transferred the DJs, believing they were the Queen and Prince of Wales, to a colleague who described in detail the condition of the Duchess of Cambridge during her treatment for severe pregnancy sickness last Tuesday.

A post-mortem examination is being carried out today

Saldanha, 46, from Bristol, would have been devastated by her unwitting role in the scam, her brother has said. She was found dead three days later in a block of nurses' flats close to the King Edward VII's Hospital where she worked.

Her husband, Benedict Barboza, daughter Lisha, 14, and son Junal, 16, made an emotional appearance outside Parliament last night after meeting Labour MP Keith Vaz.

The politician is campaigning on behalf of the family and called on the hospital to hold a full inquiry and offer further support to Barboza and his children.

The hospital defended its position last night, saying it had been in contact with Barboza to offer him help and had also established its own Jacintha Saldanha Memorial Fund.

Southern Cross Austereo (SCA), the parent company of 2Day FM, announced that it was resuming advertising from Thursday, and that until the end of the year all profits would be donated to a fund directly benefiting Saldanha's family.

The company said a minimum contribution of around £320,000 would be made.

Rhys Holleran, SCA's chief executive, said: "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.

"The company today reiterates that it is deeply saddened by this tragic and unforeseen event and offers its condolences to the family of Jacintha Saldanha."

SCA has also cancelled the station's Christmas party, planned for later this week, as it would be "inappropriate" to go ahead with the event for Sydney staff, said a spokeswoman.

Instead, money which would have been spent on the party will go to charity, she added.

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