The prank took a dark twist Friday with the death of nurse Jacintha Saldanha, a 46-year-old mother of two, three days after she unwittingly accepted the call about the health of Prince William's pregnant wife, Kate. The death has sparked an angry backlash from those who argue the DJs who carried out the hoax should be held responsible.
The board of Southern Cross Austereo met Sunday to discuss a harsh letter from the hospital that fell for the call. King Edward VII's Hospital, where the former Kate Middleton was being treated for acute morning sickness this week, condemned the "truly appalling" hoax and said the "longer term consequence has been reported around the world and is, frankly, tragic beyond words."
Max Moore-Wilton, the chairman of 2DayFM owner Southern Cross Austereo, said in a letter to the hospital's chairman Sunday that the company will cooperate with any investigation.
"I can assure you we are taking immediate action and reviewing the broadcast and processes involved," he said. "As we have said in our own statements on the matter, the outcome was unforeseeable and very regrettable."
The radio station callers impersonated Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles and received confidential details about the former Kate Middleton's medical information. The call was recorded and broadcast.
Police have not yet determined Saldanha's cause of death, but people from London to Sydney have been making the assumption she died because of stress from the call.
Both DJs involved apologized for the prank before Saldanha's death. Their show has been suspended indefinitely.
Australian police Sunday confirmed they had been contacted by London police and said they would cooperate.
