Nurse in Duchess of Cambridge hoax was found hanging, inquest hears
An inquest into the apparent suicide of a nurse duped by a hoax call from Australian DJs about the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge heard yesterday that she was found hanging in her room, had wrist injuries and left three notes.
Coroner's officer Lynda Martindill said nurse Jacintha Saldanha was discovered hanging in her nurses' quarters on Friday by a colleague and a member of security staff at the King Edward VII Hospital in London.
Police detective chief inspector James Harman said Saldanha, 46, also had injuries to her wrists. He told the inquest at Westminster Coroner's Court that two notes were found at the scene and another among Saldanha's belongings.
Saldanha answered the phone last week when two Australian disc jockeys rang pretending to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles. She was tricked into transferring the call to a nurse caring for the duchess, who was being treated for severe morning sickness,. The second nurse revealed details of her condition to the hoaxers.
Australia's media watchdog said yesterday it was launching an investigation into whether radio station 2DayFM breached its broadcasting licence conditions and the industry code of practice.
