Oz radio station to donate $500,000 to Saldanha’s family

Sydney, 12 December 2012 (Agencies): The Australian radio station behind the royal hoax pledged on Tuesday that it would donate all advertising profits till this year-end to the grieving family of Indian-origin nurse Jacintha Saldanha. 

 

The owners had suspended all advertising following the death of Saldanha, but issued a statement confirming that 2DayFM will resume advertising on Thursday with all money made given to her family (pictured left). They have said that a minimum donation of Aus $500,000 (US $523,600) will be made to a fund that will help the family. Money that would have been spent on a Christmas party will also be donated after the event was cancelled as a mark of respect.

 

Dedicated Saldanha was fooled by a hoax call from Australian DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian last Tuesday morning during Kate Middleton’s stay at King Edward VII Hospital in Marylebone, London. Saldanha, who worked at the hospital for four years, was found dead on Friday, in what is being suspected as a suicide.

 

A memorial fund

“We are very sorry for what has happened,” said Rhys Holleran, chief executive of Southern Cross Austereo which owns the station. “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 Australian Communications and Media Authority, which has received complaints from all around the world, said it was considering whether it should launch an investigation into whether the presenters breached the Commercial Radio Code of Practice.

 

Meanwhile, a post-mortem examination of Saldanha was due to be conducted on Tuesday.